Papers by Author: Qing Feng Zan

Abstract: Layered ternary compounds Ti₃SiC₂ combines attractive properties of both ceramics and metals, and has been suggested for potential engineering applications. Near-fully dense Ti₃SiC₂ bulks were sintered from commercial Ti₃SiC₂ powders by hot press at 1350°C-1600°C for 60-120min under Ar atmosphere in this paper. The phase compositions and morphology of the as-prepared samples were evaluated by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). And the mechanical properties were measured by Three-Point bending method. It was found that the Ti₃SiC₂ had only a little of decomposition at sintering temperature above 1350°C. And effects of sintering temperature and holding time on the morphology of the bulk Ti₃SiC₂ are not obvious. Relative density of 98% and flexural strength of 480MPa were obtained for the Ti₃SiC₂ samples sintered at 30MPa and 1400°C for 90min.

Abstract: A novel microsphere scaffolds composed of chitosan and β-TCP containing vancomycin was designed and prepared. The β-TCP/chitosan composite microspheres were prepared by solid-in-water-in-oil (s/w/o) emulsion cross-linking method with or without pre-cross-linking process. The mode of vancomycin maintaining in the β-TCP/chitosan composite microspheres was detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The in vitro release curve of vancomycin in simulated body fluid (SBF) was estimated. The results revealed that the pre-cross-linking prepared microspheres possessed higher loading efficiency (LE) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) especially decreasing the previous burst mass of vancomycin in incipient release. These composite microspheres got excellent sphere and well surface roughness in morphology. Vancomycin was encapsulated in composite microspheres through absorption and cross-linking. While in-vitro release curves illustrated that vancomycin release depond on diffusing firstly and then on the degradation ratio later. The microspheres loading with vancomycin would be to restore bone defect, meanwhile to inhibit bacterium proliferation. These bioactive, degradable composite microspheres have potential applications in 3D tissue engineering of bone and other tissues in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract: Bone tissue engineering provides a new way to repair the bone defect in orthopaedics. The scaffolds, porous materials with excellent biocompatibility, bioactivity and biodegradability, play an important role in bone tissue engineering. Furthermore, the bioactivity of the pore interior surfaces is very important for cell attachment, differentiation and growth, as well as new bone tissue ingrowth into pores. In this paper, β-TCP was selected as materials of scaffolds, and its bioactivity was improved by activating the interior surfaces of pore walls. The porous β-TCP scaffolds with about 50~300μm of pore size and above 80% of porosity were obtained by 3D-gel-laminated processing. Their surfaces of the scaffolds were easily covered by a low crystallized bone-like apatite layer, which determined by XRD and FTIR, after immersing in 1.5SBF solution following pre-treatment by NaOH solution. MTT and ALP assays were performed after cells cultured on the porous scaffolds with bone-like structure, and the results showed higher proliferation rate and differentiation level than that on the scaffolds without treatment, which indicated that the porous β-TCP scaffolds with bone-like apatite layer on surfaces of pore walls possess higher bioactivity. Therefore, the bioactivity of tissue engineering scaffolds could be improved by deposited bone-like apatite layer on their surfaces.

Abstract: Low temperature aging (LTD) is an important factor of Y-TZP ceramic as artificial joint femoral head and dental restorative materials in vivo for long-term application. In this paper, the accelerated aging experiments on Y-TZP ceramics were conducted. The t-m phase transition is occurring from the surface to the inside during low temperature aging of Y-TZP ceramics. As content of phase transformation increases, thickness of phase transformation layer increases. While the content of surface monoclinic phase is less, the volume expansion and surface stress caused by phase transformation can make cracks and holes shrink or even close, then the flexural strength increase. As a large number of surface monoclinic phase was generated, due to there are a lot of microscopic defects in the phase transition layer, crystals loose, strength of grain boundary lower than that of not aging area and phase transformation layers fracture in the intergranular mode, that damages the flexural strength. Therefore, the flexural strength increase firstly and then decrease with the increase of surface monoclinic content.

Abstract: The matching properties of ceramics and veneering porcelain play an important role for the overall color and mechanical properties of dental crowns. The Vita VM9 veneering porcelain was coated on the surfaces of two zirconia, three-point flexural strength, heat shock resistance and the overall color after veneered with porcelain were tested. The results showed that the interlayer cracks, radial cracks or porcelain body cracks were not appeared in all samples during thermal shock experiments at 60~220°C. Their flexural strength was all above 700MPa and the overall color covered the common color of VITA-3D Master shade guide. There is good thermal compatibility between the two dental shaded zirconia ceramics and Vita VM9 veneering porcelain. The mechanical properties are suitable for clinical posterior teeth area restorative, and the overall color is also suitable for the requirements on the color and brightness of clinical dental restoration.

Abstract: The electrical resistivty (R) of BaO–CaO–SiO2–Al2O3 (BCSA) based glass, which was used in SOEC, was measured by impedance analyzer from room temperature to sealing temperature, and it was founded that electrical resistivity of all seal glass decreases with temperature. When temperature is lower than the soften temperature of glass, the electrical resistivity of all seal glass was no less than 107Ω∙cm. At 850°C, the resistivity of the 16BaO–16CaO–42SiO2–8Al2O3 glass (G1) reached 4.40×106Ω∙cm, and even at the sealing temperature, their resistivity was still above 105-106Ω∙cm. With the decrease of ratio of Si/B from 3 to 1, the electrical resistivity of glass decreased from 4.40×106Ω∙cm to 8.96×104Ω∙cm. The electrical resistivity of glass in BCSA system could be significantly affected by B2O3 and alkaline earth oxides. The results show that the electrical resistivity of glass was improved with the increasing of non-bridging oxygen and the average field strength. All glasses can be used as sealants at high temperature with no electrical shunting in SOEC.

Abstract: By using the ring-block friction and wear machine, the friction and wear behavior of nano-ZrO2 ceramic test block against GCr15 steel test ring has been studied. At the same time, friction and wear test of 45# steel block against GCr15 steel ring has also been conducted for comparison. By using self-made test machine for the wear ability of the hip joint, the friction test of nano-ZrO2 ceramic hip joint head against ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) acetabulum has been done, the friction test of Co-Cr-Mo alloy hip joint head against UHMWPE acetabulum has also been made for comparison. The results show that the friction factor of nano-ZrO2 ceramic test block against GCr15 steel test ring is less 37.3% than that of 45# steel block against GCr15 steel ring, the wear weight of nano-ZrO2 ceramic test block against GCr15 steel test ring is only 0.76% of that of 45# steel block against GCr15 steel ring. The wear weight of UHMWPE acetabulum against nano-ZrO2 ceramic hip joint head is 61.5% of UHMWPE acetabulum against Co-Cr-Mo alloy hip joint head. This indicates nano-ZrO2 ceramic has good wear resistance property and is the ideal materials for artificial Hip joint head Prostheses.

Abstract: This paper focuses on the influence on the mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite / poly-hydroxybutyrate (HA / PHB) composites by different HA contents, and the effect of Silane coupling agent on improving the interface of HA/PHB composite materials. The HA/PHB composites were prepared by ball milling, hot-pressing, the HA content were 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30wt%, respectively. Silane coupling agent was used for HA surface treatment in HA/PHB composites to compare with not having HA surface treatment in HA/PHB composite materials. The impact strength and flexural strength of HA / PHB composites were tested, and the microstructure of the fracture surface was observed by SEM. The results showed that HA could enhance the bending strength of HA/PHB composites. With HA content increased, the bending strength increased first and then decreased, when the HA content was 10wt%, the maximum bending strength reached 32.74MPa, increased about 41% comparing with pure PHB. Silane coupling agent can improve the interface of HA / PHB, then enhance the mechanical strength. When the HA content was 15wt%, the maximum bending strength reached 46.6MPa, Increased about 56% comparing with the same proportion of untreated HA/PHB composite material, and about double comparing with pure PHB.

Abstract: Apparent activation energy in low temperature aging of two kinds of Y-TZP ceramic was studied in this paper. The ceramics were processed into small pieces, and aging in 100°C, 110°C, 120°C, 130°C and 140°C respectively. The content of monoclinic phase was calculated by X-ray diffraction patterns and the microstructure was scanned by SEM. According to MAJ law and Arrhenius formation, straight lines were fitted in coordinate systems of ln (ln (1/(1 − f )))-ln t and ln b-1/T, and the kinetic parameters of low temperature aging of Y-TZP ceramic were calculated according to these lines. The results revealed that grain size significantly affected apparent activation energy of Y-TZP ceramics.

Abstract: Pr-doped ceria solid solutions have attracted much attention as promising mixed electronic-ionic conductor and oxygen storage materials. However, little effort has been made to synthesize Pr-doped ceria with one-dimensional nanostructure. In this paper, Pr-doped ceria nanorods were prepared via a facile hydrothermal method using Pr(NO3)3, Ce(NO3)3 and NaOH as raw materials. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) indicated that the as-prepared Pr-doped ceria nanorods had a cubic fluorite structure, with the length around 200 ~ 400 nm and the diameters around 10 ~ 18 nm. The effect of alkaline concentration has been systematically studied and the results indicated that higher alkaline concentration was favorable for the formation of nanorods.