Papers by Keyword: Structure-Property Relationships

Abstract: Collagen hydrogels are widely used as three-dimensional scaffolds for cells and tissue in culture environments. These materials, which consist of crosslinked biopolymer (protein-based) networks in aqueous media, are particularly suitable for recreating part of the extra-cellular matrix, but their poor mechanical properties represent a major limitation. One strategy to enhance the strength of this kind of hydrogels might be to incorporate clay nanoscopic particles. In fact, it has been observed that the charged surface of clay nanosheets can interact with certain functional groups belonging to polymer molecules, yielding stronger networks. Moreover, clay particles are recognized to be biocompatible. In the present work, the gelation process and the resulting morphological and mechanical properties of collagen/laponite clay nanocomposite hydrogels were invastigated. Upon gelation, the biopolymer molecules assemble into nanoscale fibrils, which bundle into fibers and entangle into a three-dimensional network. The network characteristics depend on tunable parameters such as pH and clay concentration.

Abstract: Gravity step-casting experiments were performed to investigate process-structure-property relationships in three different die-cast magnesium alloys – AM60, AZ91 and AE44. The step-cast mold was instrumented to capture temperature profiles of the solidification of molten magnesium. This paper investigates the structure-property relationships of these magnesium alloys, specifically the dependence of the fracture properties upon the porosity that forms during the casting process. Sixteen tensile specimens were cut from the step-casting perpendicular to the solidification front, for each alloy examined. Correlations from X-ray tomography data were used to estimate the maximum area fraction of porosity from the average volumetric porosity in the specimens, assuming a typical size and spatial distribution of porosity. This relationship can be used in the absence of more accurate measure of porosity (i.e. serial sectioning, computed x-ray tomography). A failure model for die-cast alloys – which depends upon the strain-hardening coefficient and the maximum area fraction of porosity in the specimen – was used to predict fracture strains for each specimen. The experimental tensile elongation of each specimen was compared with predicted values. The resulting mechanical properties determined from these cast magnesium alloys will be used to develop process-structure-property relationships.

Abstract: This paper considers a rigorous thermodynamic approach that can be used for calculating a variety of glass properties and the content of various structural units in glasses. Since both the properties and the structure are calculated on a unified basis, this approach enables the structureproperty relationship in glasses to be established quantitatively, and the structural units that characterise changes in glass properties to be determined.