Papers by Keyword: Bi-Layer

Abstract: Biomaterials used for vascular prostheses should possess certain strength that can keep the normal blood fluidity, as well as certain flexibility and elasticity that can resist blood pulsation pressure. In order to fabricate small diameter vascular prostheses (SDVP) that possess matchable mechanical properties with natural blood vessels, a bi-layered tubular structure composed of electrospinning blended nanofiber and silk fiber was designed and prepared in this study. The inner layer of the structure, prepared through electrospinning, was composed of Poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) and silk fibroin (SF) blended nanofibers. Braided silk tube was used as the outer layer of the structure. Morphological, structural and mechanical properties including peak stress, peak strain, and Youngs modulus of the prototype bi-layered SDVP were characterized initially. Results showed that the diameter range of the blended nanofiber was between 100 and 900 nm, and the fiber diameter increased with the content increase of PLCL. Through blending PLCL together with SF, peak stress and peak strain of the electrospun inner layer were improved, and that of the Youngs modulus decreased. Meanwhile, the outer layer of SDVP was stronger and had higher Youngs modulus. Those mechanical performances of the prototype bi-layered SDVP fabricated in this study are similar to natural blood vessels, which provide a promising biomaterial that could be applied on tubular tissue engineering scaffolds.

Abstract: It is significant to explore the fatigue contact damage of bi-layer ceramic composites in order to improve the long-time mechanical reliability of bi-layer structured dental restorations. In this study, Hertz contact test was used to compare the fracture modes and the ability of anti-fatigue damage of zirconia and alumina bi-layer composites, to analyze the effect of loading rate and other factors on the damage mechanisms of bi-layer ceramic composites. Cyclic spherical fatigue loading was put on the bi-layer alumina and zirconia composites with different substrates. The samples were observed by high depth of field stereomicroscope and digital optical microscope after test. The results showed that the fatigue contact damage mode of zirconia bi-layer composite was the porcelain fracture from radial cracks without the damage of zirconia core. The fatigue contact damage mode of alumina bi-layer composite was the alumina core failure from radial cracks as the function of contact load. For both of zirconia and alumina bi-layer samples, the number of cycles to the sample failure as the function of same maximum contact load with high loading rate was obviously smaller than low loading rate. The mechanical properties of the substrate materials had limited effects on the number of cycles to the failure of both zirconia and alumina bi-layer samples from contact-induced radial cracks as maximum contact load with low loading rate. The ability of the zirconia bi-layer composites to resist fatigue damage was much higher than that of the alumina bi-layer composites.

Abstract: Bi-layer all-ceramic dental crowns comprise an inner core made of alumina or zirconia and an outer porcelain shell. The veneer safe from damage is mainly depended on the properties of core materials due to the poor strength and toughness of porcelain. The fracture modes and crack transformation of zirconia/porcelain and alumina/porcelain bi-layer composites reveal the potential feasibilities of improving the fatigue life of all-ceramic restorations. The failure modes of bi-layer composites were confirmed under cyclic spherical fatigue loading by dynamic microcosmic observation. Crack modes and evolvement of bi-layered composites were explored inflecting with fatigue load, cycles, frequency and water environment. Microcosmic morphology of the samples was observed by high depth of field stereomicroscope to determine degree and modes of fatigue damage. The appearance of cone cracks of porcelain surface was almost consistent in both of zirconia and alumina bi-layer composites. However, the pattern and process of the damage are different under cycle fatigue load. Furthermore, process of fatigue damage of bi-layer composites were observed to failure rapidly under water environment in both of zirconia and alumina bi-layer composites.

Abstract: Fabricating electrolyte with thin film is one of various methods of lowering the operation temperature for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Because the major polarization of SOFCs is ohmic loss, many groups have tried to fabricate a thin film electrolyte – some proton conducting material that has the conductivity of a couple of orders higher than oxygen conducting one. We have investigated the synthesis of Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) including Yttria-doped Barium Zirconate(BYZ) thin film electrolyte via thin-film processes such as Pulsed Laser Deposition and Sputtering. Another approach to lower the operation temperature of SOFCs is the bi-layer structure electrolyte. The functional layer via thin film deposition could guarantee minimum power density loss and stable operation. After the study of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) condition to deposit Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) on Gadonilia doped Cerate (GDC) substrate, GDC/YSZ bi-layered electrolyte button cells showed higher OCV and larger limiting current with 100nm YSZ ultra thin film. The performance improvement might be attributed to the function of electron blocking and cutting off the reducible gas.