Iranian Journal of Materials Science and Engineering

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Thin sheets of hydroxyapatite were fabricated by tape casting process. The non-aqueoustape casting formulation was optimized by adjusting the concentration of organic additivesspecially those of binder and plasticizer in the slurry. The optimized slurry was cast on a glasscarrier using a designed laboratory scale doctor blade. Following a binder removal stage, thetapes were sintered at different temperatures in air atmosphere. Heat treatment at 1250 °C led tothe formation of a dense microstructure as was evidenced by the scanning electron microscopy.

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Ultrafine hydroxyapatite (HAp) powders with crystallite size in the range of 10-90 nm were synthesized by chemical precipitation process using Ca(OH)2 and H3PO4 solutions as starting materials. Molar ratio of Ca/P=1.68 was kept constant throughout the process and alkaline condition for the reaction was maintained using ammonium hydroxide. The role of raw material concentration on HAp crystallite size and morphology were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The results revealed that variations in crystallite size and morphology of synthesized HAp are strongly affected by the concentration of acid solution. To study the sintering behavior of HAp particles, the powders were pressed at 200 MPa using a uniaxial press. Sintering experiments were carried out at temperatures of 1100, 1250 and 1300°C with various soaking times at maximum temperatures. XRD was also used in determining thephases present after sintering process. The results indicated the decomposition of HAp into a-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and b-TCP phases at 1300°C. The microstructure of the sintered HAp ceramics was characterized by SEM.

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Abstract: Nano- size alumina particles have been synthesized by mechanical activation of a dry powder mixture of AlCl3 and CaO. Mechanical milling of the above raw materials with the conditions adopted in this study resulted in the formation of a mixture consisting of crystalline CaO and amorphous aluminum chlorides phases. There was no sign of chemical reaction occurring during milling stage as evidenced by x-ray diffraction studies. Subsequent heat treatment of the milled powder at 350ºC resulted in the occurrence of displacement reaction and the formation of Al2O3 particles within a water soluble CaCl2 matrix. The effect of higher temperature calcinations on the phase development in this powder mixture was followed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscope ( SEM). Differential thermal analysis (DTA) was used to compare the thermal behavior between the milled and unmilled powders. Perhaps the most important result in this study was the observation of á-Al2O3 phase at a very low temperature of 500ºC.

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Different volume fractions (1.3, 2.6, and 7.6 Vol.%) of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were dispersed within 8Y-TZP nanopowders. Mixed powder specimens were subsequently processed by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and effects of CNTs on the sintering process of 8Y-TZP/CNT composites was studied. Maintenance of CNTs through the SPS process was confirmed using TEM and Raman Spectroscopy. Studies on the sintering profile of zirconia-CNT composites (Z-xC composites) could, to some extent, clarify the effect of CNTs’ volume fraction on the densification rates of Z-xC composites. The specimen with the highest content of CNT (Z-7.6C) showed the lowest sintering rate while it was unable to reach full density.

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Surface smoothness of ceramic glazes is always an important characteristic of ceramic glazes as a point of surface engineering studies. Surface roughness affects chemical resistivity, glossiness and stainabiliy of glazes. In fact, less surface roughness improves cleanability of the surface by the least usage amount of detergents. In this investigation, surface topography of two common opaque glazes, zirconia and titania-based, has been investigated. Crystallinity of the surface has been studied from SEM images, and comparison of EDS elemental results with phase analysis results of XRD. Surface roughness profile measured by Marsurf M300, shows that titania-based glaze is almost 24% percentage more smooth than zirconia based glaze. Surface smoothness is in relation with crystallinity of glaze surface, crystal type and crystal distribution in amorphous matrix phase

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The inherent reactivity of the Al–Cu alloys is such that their use for structural, marine, and aerospace components and structures would not be possible without prior application of a corrosion resistance system. Historically these corrosion resistance coatings were based on the use of chemicals containing Cr (VI) compounds. Silane coatings are of increasing interest in industry due to their potential application for the replacement of current toxic hexavalent chromate based treatments. In this study, hydrophobic coating sol was prepared with methyltriethoxysilane (MTES), methanol (MeOH), and water (as 7M NH4OH) at a molar ratio of 1:25:4.31 respectively. The coatings were applied by a dip-technique to 2024-T3 Al alloy, and subsequently cured at room temperature and there after heat treated in an oven at 150°C. The anticorrosion properties of the coatings within 3.5 wt% NaCl solution were studied by Tafel polarization technique. The sol–gel coating exhibited good anticorrosion properties providing an adherent protection film on the Al 2024-T3 substrate. The surface properties were characterized by water contact angle measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the composition was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

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This study focuses on the physical, magnetic, biological and antibacterial behaviour of cobalt-doped HAp powder samples. Pure and Cobalt- doped HAp nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal method. Calcium nitrate, di- ammonium hydrogen phosphate and cobalt nitrate were used as precursor materials.  The synthesized powders were characterized using x-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Raman spectroscopy as well as MTT assay and cell adhesion test. Disc diffusion method was used to investigate antibacterial activity of the samples. The results confirmed the substitution of Ca by Co ions in the HAp lattice. In addition, this substitution induced size reduction and morphology change in HAp particles. All cobalt substituted HAp powder samples displayed paramagnetic properties, as opposed to the diamagnetic behaviour observed in the pure HAp samples. In addition, these nanoparticles exhibited cell adhesion, biocompatibility and antibacterial activity against S.aureus bacteria.
This study focuses on the physical, magnetic, biological and antibacterial behaviour of cobalt-doped HAp powder samples. Pure and Cobalt- doped HAp nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal method. Calcium nitrate, di- ammonium hydrogen phosphate and cobalt nitrate were used as precursor materials.  The synthesized powders were characterized using x-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Raman spectroscopy as well as MTT assay and cell adhesion test. Disc diffusion method was used to investigate antibacterial activity of the samples. The results confirmed the substitution of Ca by Co ions in the HAp lattice. In addition, this substitution induced size reduction and morphology change in HAp particles. All cobalt substituted HAp powder samples displayed paramagnetic properties, as opposed to the diamagnetic behaviour observed in the pure HAp samples. In addition, these nanoparticles exhibited cell adhesion, biocompatibility and antibacterial activity against S.aureus bacteria.