Materials Science Forum Vols. 636-637

Abstract: Glasses based on the 3CaO.P2O5-SiO2-MgO system present high bioactivity aiming the use as bone restorations. On the other hand, the low mechanical properties reduce the importance of this glass aiming the use as restoration bulk specimens. In this work, glass-ceramics were obtained by devitrification of this glass using different temperatures. CaCO3, SiO2, MgO and Ca(H2PO4).H2O were used as starting-powders. Powder mixture was milled/homogenized and melted at 1600°C, for 2h and annealed at 700°C for 4h with cooling rate of 3°C/min. Glass specimens of 151550mm3 were characterized by DTA and XRD analysis. Specimens were heat-treated in different temperatures between 7000C and 1050°C, for 4 hours, obtaining glass-ceramics with different crystallized phase content. Hardness and fracture toughness were determined and correlated with crystalline phase content. The results indicated that crystallization-degree increase with the temperature, and the mechanical properties are improved: Hardness values present increases lower than 20% as function of the crystallization. Fracture toughness may increase 100% as function of temperature (crystallization degree).

Abstract: The cyclic fatigue life of 3mol%Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 (3Y-TZP) ceramics doped with bioactive glass has been investigated. Samples of 3Y-TZP containing 3 or 5wt% of bioglass were sintered at 1300oC for 120 minutes. Sintered samples were characterized by relative density, XRD and SEM analysis. Mechanical properties of hardness and fracture toughness were determined using Vickers indentation method and Modulus of Rupture was determined by four-point bending testing. Furthermore, the reliability of the samples was estimated using Weibull statistic analysis. The cyclic fatigue life was estimated using four-point bending testing under frequency of 25Hz and stress ratio, R, of 0.1. Highly dense tetragonal ZrO2 samples were obtained after sintering and presented hardness of 10.5 and 11GPa, KIC of 6 and 7MPam1/2, bending strength of 320 and 450MPa and Weibull’ modulus of 6 and 7 for samples containing 5 or 3% of bioglass respectively. The fatigue behavior indicates that the increasing of stress level leads to decreasing of the number of cycles and the number of run-out specimens. Fatigue behavior was similar for the two compositions tested. Samples containing 3% of bioglass are more resistant (near 10%) to fatigue presenting cyclic fatigue life near to 250MPa while samples with 5% presented fatigue limit near to 220MPa.

Abstract: Lysozyme and BSA were used, as model proteins of considerably different dimensions, in order to evaluate the influence of the distinct pore structural characteristics of three types of ordered mesoporous silica materials (MCF, SBA-15 and MCM-41) on protein adsorption. Characterisation by X ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption at 77K revealed the typical pore structural features of each type of material. The maximum of the pore size distributions indicated that the width of the windows of MCF (2) (mesitylene/P123 of 2) was larger than the pore diameter of the unidirectional tubular pores of SBA-15. All the materials presented similar small external surface areas but high pore volumes, with that of MCF (2) being the highest. The adsorption of lysozyme at pH=8 increased in the order MCM-41<< SBA-15< MCF (2), and the uptakes were well above those of BSA at pH=5. Although BSA is not completely excluded from the mesopores of SBA-15 and MCF (2), as happens with MCM-41, the adsorption occurs to a very limited extent. The overall behaviour of these SBA-15 and MCF (2) samples was not significantly different and both revealed potential for the separation of these proteins.

Abstract: The vulva-vaginal infections are common in women. The textile materials, used in underwear and absorbent hygiene products, are identified as risk factors, but their influence on the emergence of these infections is not yet clear. Bacterial adhesion is associated with persistence of microorganisms in the material that is related to the recurrence of infections. This paper is an initial attempt for the elucidation of these questions. Some of the main features involved in this phenomenon are identified and characterized.

Abstract: Titanium alloys form the most versatile class of metallic materials used as biomaterials. Among them it is foreseen that the  type titanium alloy will be a prominent one for orthopedic applications. Aim of the present work was to prepare and characterize a  type titanium alloy containing 35 wt.% Nb. Samples were cooled from the  phase temperatures at different rates. This work includes the effects of heat treatment on the microstructure and hardness, tensile and fatigue properties in air at room temperature. The results showed that microstructure of slow cooled samples are formed by precipitates of  and  phases in a  matrix. After rapid cooling, the microstructure consists of  phase and ” martensite. Mechanical testing showed that the elastic modulus and Vickers hardness of slow cooled samples were significantly higher than that obtained by rapid cooling. On the other hand, it was observed that slow cooled samples showed higher tensile strength and lower ductility. The rapid cooled sample showed fatigue resistance higher than that of slow cooled samples.

Abstract: Tri-block copolymer with pH- and thermo-responsive consisting of poly(t-butylacrylate) and poly(vinylcaprolactam), (PtBA/PVCL) were prepared by RAFT polymerization and characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and 1H NMR. PtBA and PVCL were used as macro chain-transfer agents (MCTA) to synthesize PtBA-b-PVCL-b-PtBA and/or PVCL-b-PtBA-b-PVCL, which after partial hydrolysis led to amphiphilic tri-block copolymers P(tBA-co-AA)-b-PVCL-b-P(tBA-co-AA) and/or PVCL-b-P(tBA-co-AA)-b-PVCL.

Abstract: Hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings are widely used to improve the biocompatibility of titanium substrates. The main problem concerning these coatings is related with the bad adhesion characteristic of the ceramic/metal interface. A TiO2 interlayer can be used to improve the adhesion of the coating; however the TiO2 is a bioinert material. Then, a solution can be the use of a mixture of HA-TiO2 (60% wt HA- 40% wt TiO2) powder has been sprayed by using High Velocity Oxy-Fuel (DJH-2700) for different spraying distances. The adhesion of the coatings has been mechanically tested and the values have been compared with the values obtained for coatings that have been immersed in simulated body fluid solution (SBF) after 24 and 120 hours. The crystallinity degree of the HA plays an important role on it for the dissolution affecting the behaviour of the interface at the same time it is also important osteoclastic resorption and carbonate apatite precipitation.

Abstract: Al-rich sludge produced from industrial anodising and surface treatment processes had been tested in the fabrication of alumina-based materials, by using plastic extrusion as shaping technique. Long rods were produced using a vacuum screw extruder, by a careful control of all relevant processing parameters. Then, thick discs were obtained by cutting dried selected rods, to be tested as probes for sintering-dependent electrical properties. The sintering process was followed by common dilatometric/thermal analyses and results were interrelated with the evolution of electrical conductivity, estimated by impedance spectroscopy technique (IS). Results show that sintering-dependent morphological evolution up to 1300°C strongly affects the electrical behaviour of samples, and as a consequence IS seems to be a useful method to follow the firing process.

Abstract: Selective volatilization of the silica contained in zircon takes place under high temperatures and low oxygen pressures. The presence of Yttrium oxide has the effect of enhancing this volatilization, increasing the yield in zirconia and, at the same time, stabilizing in tetragonal or cubic form.

Abstract: Reticulated cordierite foams produced by a direct foaming method were successfully washcoated with platinum-based zeolite catalysts. For comparison purposes, commercial cordierite monoliths were also washcoated. The effect of the structural properties on the fluid dynamics and catalytic behaviour for the toluene combustion were evaluated. Foam supports revealed highest performances, in terms of conversion into CO2, when compared to conventional honeycomb monoliths. The experimental results suggest that the catalytic behaviour is critically dependent on the fluid dynamics provided by structural characteristics of the supports, such as porosity, density and size of pores. The randomness and tortuosity of foams enhance reactant mixing, as it was evidenced by the higher axial and radial dispersions of the gas flow across the foam structure. This leads to better mass and heat transfers in the reaction system, thus improving the catalytic behaviour.