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Volume 14
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Materials, Volume 14, Issue 7 (April-1 2021) – 238 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Cyclodextrins are well known in the field of Supramolecular Chemistry but are finding new applications in the development of electrochemical sensors. They can be combined with emerging two-dimensional materials, which have very good electronic conductivity, to provide sensors that are able to detect low concentrations of analytes with impressive selectivity. This is related to their ability to form inclusion complexes, trapping the targeted molecule close to the surface of the sensor, facilitating its oxidation or reduction. Cyclodextrin-based materials are finding applications as biosensors, environmental, biological, and chiral sensors and have a promising and bright future in the field of Electroanalysis. View this paper.
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28 pages, 7535 KiB  
Article
Stochastic Model for Energy Propagation in Disordered Granular Chains
by Kianoosh Taghizadeh, Rohit Kumar Shrivastava and Stefan Luding
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1815; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071815 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2624
Abstract
Energy transfer is one of the essentials of mechanical wave propagation (along with momentum transport). Here, it is studied in disordered one-dimensional model systems mimicking force-chains in real systems. The pre-stressed random masses (other types of disorder lead to qualitatively similar behavior) interact [...] Read more.
Energy transfer is one of the essentials of mechanical wave propagation (along with momentum transport). Here, it is studied in disordered one-dimensional model systems mimicking force-chains in real systems. The pre-stressed random masses (other types of disorder lead to qualitatively similar behavior) interact through (linearized) Hertzian repulsive forces, which allows solving the deterministic problem analytically. The main goal, a simpler, faster stochastic model for energy propagation, is presented in the second part, after the basic equations are re-visited and the phenomenology of pulse propagation in disordered granular chains is reviewed. First, the propagation of energy in space is studied. With increasing disorder (quantified by the standard deviation of the random mass distribution), the attenuation of pulsed signals increases, transiting from ballistic propagation (in ordered systems) towards diffusive-like characteristics, due to energy localization at the source. Second, the evolution of energy in time by transfer across wavenumbers is examined, using the standing wave initial conditions of all wavenumbers. Again, the decay of energy (both the rate and amount) increases with disorder, as well as with the wavenumber. The dispersive ballistic transport in ordered systems transits to low-pass filtering, due to disorder, where localization of energy occurs at the lowest masses in the chain. Instead of dealing with the too many degrees of freedom or only with the lowest of all the many eigenmodes of the system, we propose a stochastic master equation approach with reduced complexity, where all frequencies/energies are grouped into bands. The mean field stochastic model, the matrix of energy-transfer probabilities between bands, is calibrated from the deterministic analytical solutions by ensemble averaging various band-to-band transfer situations for short times, as well as considering the basis energy levels (decaying with the wavenumber increasing) that are not transferred. Finally, the propagation of energy in the wavenumber space at transient times validates the stochastic model, suggesting applications in wave analysis for non-destructive testing, underground resource exploration, etc. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Acoustic Metamaterials)
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9 pages, 17478 KiB  
Article
Silane-Coating Strategy for Titanium Functionalization Does Not Impair Osteogenesis In Vivo
by Plinio Mendes Senna, Carlos Fernando de Almeida Barros Mourão, Rafael Coutinho Mello-Machado, Kayvon Javid, Pietro Montemezzi, Altair Antoninha Del Bel Cury and Luiz Meirelles
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1814; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071814 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3397
Abstract
Silane-coating strategy has been used to bind biological compounds to the titanium surface, thereby making implant devices biologically active. However, it has not been determined if the presence of the silane coating itself is biocompatible to osseointegration. The aim of the present study [...] Read more.
Silane-coating strategy has been used to bind biological compounds to the titanium surface, thereby making implant devices biologically active. However, it has not been determined if the presence of the silane coating itself is biocompatible to osseointegration. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if silane-coating affects bone formation on titanium using a rabbit model. For this, titanium screw implants (3.75 by 6 mm) were hydroxylated in a solution of H2SO4/30% H2O2 for 4 h before silane-coating with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). A parallel set of titanium screws underwent only the hydroxylation process to present similar acid-etched topography as a control. The presence of the silane on the surface was checked by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). A total of 40 titanium screws were implanted in the tibia of ten New Zealand rabbits in order to evaluate bone-to-implant contact (BIC) after 3 weeks and 6 weeks of healing. Silane-coated surface presented higher nitrogen content in the XPS analysis, while micro- and nano-topography of the surface remained unaffected. No difference between the groups was observed after 3 and 6 weeks of healing (p > 0.05, independent t-test), although an increase in BIC occurred over time. These results indicate that silanization of a titanium surface with APTES did not impair the bone formation, indicating that this can be a reliable tool to anchor osteogenic molecules on the surface of implant devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Biomaterials in Dentistry and Healthcare)
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9 pages, 1492 KiB  
Communication
Anatase Titanium Dioxide Imparts Photoluminescent Properties to PA2200 Commercial 3D Printing Material to Generate Complex Optical Imaging Phantoms
by Tyler Dann, Jordan Raphel, Seth T. Gammon, Zachary Mastrovich, Tony Van Avermaete, Justin Jeffrey, Satish Adusumilli and W. Matthew Leevy
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1813; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071813 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2725
Abstract
Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a prominent 3D printing modality that typically uses a polyamide (PA) powder as the substrate. One commercially available SLS material is known as PA2200, which is comprised of nylon 12 and titanium dioxide (TiO2) and is [...] Read more.
Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a prominent 3D printing modality that typically uses a polyamide (PA) powder as the substrate. One commercially available SLS material is known as PA2200, which is comprised of nylon 12 and titanium dioxide (TiO2) and is widely used to generate 3D-printed parts. Here, we report a unique optical photoluminescence (PL) characteristic of native, white PA2200, in which it yields a persistent, phosphorescence-type emission. An analysis of luminescence imaging data with emission measurements demonstrated that the anatase phase of the titanium dioxide additive is the source of the persistent PL properties. This characteristic of PA2200 enables advanced optical imaging applications, as demonstrated by luminescence imaging of an anatomical rat skeleton and a novel Derenzo-type phantom on a commercial image station. In summary, the light emission properties of PA2200 induced by the presence of anatase titanium dioxide open the door to a vast new array of complex optical applications, including the generation of imaging phantoms for training, calibration, and quality control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials in Additive Manufacturing for Medical Applications)
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11 pages, 3660 KiB  
Article
Random Forest Approach in Modeling the Flow Stress of 304 Stainless Steel during Deformation at 700 °C–900 °C
by Shin-Hyung Song
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1812; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071812 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2024
Abstract
The alloy 304 stainless steel is used in a wide variety of industrial applications. It is frequently applied in tough environments, such as those involving high temperatures, low temperatures, and corrosive environments. Hence, research on the flow stress behavior of the alloy during [...] Read more.
The alloy 304 stainless steel is used in a wide variety of industrial applications. It is frequently applied in tough environments, such as those involving high temperatures, low temperatures, and corrosive environments. Hence, research on the flow stress behavior of the alloy during deformation under tough environments is critically important to achieving the maximum effectiveness in the application of the alloy. This research presents a study on the flow stress of 304 stainless steel during hot deformation at the temperatures of 700 °C–900 °C under the strain rates ranging from 0.0002/s–0.02/s. For this study, hot tensile experiments are conducted, and the flow stress variations of the alloy are studied with respect to the variations in the strain rate and temperature. Next, the stress behavior was modeled by the traditional Arrhenius-type constitutive equation and random forest algorithm. Then, the flow stresses predicted by different methods were studied by comparing errors. The results showed that the flow stress was modeled more accurately by the random forest algorithm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Materials Simulation and Design)
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20 pages, 30796 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Histomorphometric and Micromorphometric Performance of a Serum Albumin-Coated Bone Allograft Combined with A-PRF for Early and Conventional Healing Protocols after Maxillary Sinus Augmentation: A Randomized Clinical Trial
by Bálint Trimmel, Szabolcs Gyulai-Gaál, Márton Kivovics, Noémi Piroska Jákob, Csaba Hegedűs, Bence Tamás Szabó, Csaba Dobó-Nagy and György Szabó
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1810; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071810 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3596
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the microarchitecture of augmented bone following maxillary sinus augmentation (MSA) after healing periods of 3 (test) and 6 (control) months using the combination of advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) and a serum albumin-coated bone allograft (SACBA). [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to compare the microarchitecture of augmented bone following maxillary sinus augmentation (MSA) after healing periods of 3 (test) and 6 (control) months using the combination of advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) and a serum albumin-coated bone allograft (SACBA). Twenty-six patients with 30 surgical sites who required two-stage MSA were enrolled and grafted with the combination of A-PRF and SACBAs. The surgical sites were randomly allocated to the test or control group. During implant site preparation, 17 bone core biopsy samples were collected from each study group for histological, histomorphometric and micromorphometric analysis. Resonance frequency analysis was performed at the time of implant placement and 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks postoperatively. The percentage of newly formed bone was 44.89 ± 9.49% in the test group and 39.75 ± 8.15% in the control group (p = 0.100). The results of the µCT analysis showed no significant differences in morphometric parameters between the study groups. The implant stability quotient was not significantly different between the two groups at 10 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Based on these findings, the total treatment time may be reduced by 3 months with the use of A-PRF and SACBAs for two-stage MSA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Biomaterials and Technology for Dental Clinical Applications)
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13 pages, 3749 KiB  
Article
Identifying the Range of Micro-Events Preceding the Critical Point in the Destruction Process in Traditional and Quasi-Brittle Cement Composites with the Use of a Sound Spectrum
by Dominik Logoń, Janusz Juraszek, Zbynek Keršner and Petr Frantík
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1809; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071809 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2140
Abstract
This paper presents the possibilities of determining the range of stresses preceding the critical destruction process in cement composites with the use of micro-events identified by means of a sound spectrum. The presented test results refer to the earlier papers in which micro-events [...] Read more.
This paper presents the possibilities of determining the range of stresses preceding the critical destruction process in cement composites with the use of micro-events identified by means of a sound spectrum. The presented test results refer to the earlier papers in which micro-events (destruction processes) were identified but without determining the stress level of their occurrence. This paper indicates a correlation of 2/3 of the stress level corresponding to the elastic range with the occurrence of micro-events in traditional and quasi-brittle composites. Tests were carried out on beams (with and without reinforcement) subjected to four-point bending. In summary, it is suggested that the conclusions can be extended to other test cases (e.g., compression strength), which should be confirmed by the appropriate tests. The paper also indicates a need for further research to identify micro-events. The correct recognition of micro-events is important for the safety and durability of traditional and quasi-brittle cement composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Testing of Materials and Elements in Civil Engineering)
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20 pages, 6822 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Stability of Different Kinds of Gas Nanobubbles in Deionized and Salt Water
by Yali Zhou, Zhenyao Han, Chunlin He, Qin Feng, Kaituo Wang, Youbin Wang, Nengneng Luo, Gjergj Dodbiba, Yuezhou Wei, Akira Otsuki and Toyohisa Fujita
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1808; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071808 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 48 | Viewed by 5018
Abstract
Nanobubbles have many potential applications depending on their types. The long-term stability of different gas nanobubbles is necessary to be studied considering their applications. In the present study, five kinds of nanobubbles (N2, O2, Ar + 8%H2, [...] Read more.
Nanobubbles have many potential applications depending on their types. The long-term stability of different gas nanobubbles is necessary to be studied considering their applications. In the present study, five kinds of nanobubbles (N2, O2, Ar + 8%H2, air and CO2) in deionized water and a salt aqueous solution were prepared by the hydrodynamic cavitation method. The mean size and zeta potential of the nanobubbles were measured by a light scattering system, while the pH and Eh of the nanobubble suspensions were measured as a function of time. The nanobubble stability was predicted and discussed by the total potential energies between two bubbles by the extended Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) theory. The nanobubbles, except CO2, in deionized water showed a long-term stability for 60 days, while they were not stable in the 1 mM (milli mol/L) salt aqueous solution. During the 60 days, the bubble size gradually increased and decreased in deionized water. This size change was discussed by the Ostwald ripening effect coupled with the bubble interaction evaluated by the extended DLVO theory. On the other hand, CO2 nanobubbles in deionized water were not stable and disappeared after 5 days, while the CO2 nanobubbles in 1 mM of NaCl and CaCl2 aqueous solution became stable for 2 weeks. The floating and disappearing phenomena of nanobubbles were estimated and discussed by calculating the relationship between the terminal velocity of the floating bubble and bubble size. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Characterization and Processing of Complex Materials)
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26 pages, 13460 KiB  
Article
Creation of Ionically Crosslinked Tri-Layered Chitosan Membranes to Simulate Different Human Skin Properties
by Rocío Guerle-Cavero, Blanca Lleal-Fontàs and Albert Balfagón-Costa
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1807; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071807 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3830
Abstract
In 2023, new legislation will ban the use of animals in the cosmetic industry worldwide. This fact, together with ethical considerations concerning the use of animals or humans in scientific research, highlights the need to propose new alternatives for replacing their use. The [...] Read more.
In 2023, new legislation will ban the use of animals in the cosmetic industry worldwide. This fact, together with ethical considerations concerning the use of animals or humans in scientific research, highlights the need to propose new alternatives for replacing their use. The aim of this study is to create a tri-layered chitosan membrane ionically crosslinked with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) in order to simulate the number of layers in human skin. The current article highlights the creation of a membrane where pores were induced by a novel method. Swelling index, pore creation, and mechanical property measurements revealed that the swelling index of chitosan membranes decreased and, their pore formation and elasticity increased with an increase in the Deacetylation Grade (DDA). Additionally, the results demonstrate that chitosan’s origin can influence the elastic modulus value and reproducibility, with higher values being obtained with seashell than snow crab or shrimp shells. Furthermore, the data show that the addition of each layer, until reaching three layers, increases the elastic modulus. Moreover, if layers are crosslinked, the elastic modulus increases to a much greater extent. The characterization of three kinds of chitosan membranes was performed to find the most suitable material for studying different human skin properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chitosan-Based Materials)
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21 pages, 5063 KiB  
Article
Failure Mechanisms of GFRP Scarf Joints under Tensile Load
by Carineh Ghafafian, Bartosz Popiela and Volker Trappe
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1806; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071806 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3068
Abstract
A potential repair alternative to restoring the mechanical properties of lightweight fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) structures is to locally patch these areas with scarf joints. The effects of such repair methods on the structural integrity, however, are still largely unknown. In this paper, the [...] Read more.
A potential repair alternative to restoring the mechanical properties of lightweight fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) structures is to locally patch these areas with scarf joints. The effects of such repair methods on the structural integrity, however, are still largely unknown. In this paper, the mechanical property restoration, failure mechanism, and influence of fiber orientation mismatch between parent and repair materials of 1:50 scarf joints are studied on monolithic glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) specimens under tensile load. Two different parent orientations of [−45/+45]2S and [0/90]2S are exemplarily examined, and control specimens are taken as a baseline for the tensile strength and stiffness property recovery assessment. Using a layer-wise stress analysis with finite element simulations conducted with ANSYS Composite PrepPost to support the experimental investigation, the fiber orientation with respect to load direction is shown to affect the critical regions and thereby failure mechanism of the scarf joint specimens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber Reinforced Polymers for Structural Strengthening)
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17 pages, 6659 KiB  
Article
Effect of the Addition of Biobased Polyols on the Thermal Stability and Flame Retardancy of Polyurethane and Poly(urea)urethane Elastomers
by Kamila Mizera, Kamila Sałasińska, Joanna Ryszkowska, Maria Kurańska and Rafał Kozera
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1805; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071805 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2555
Abstract
Due to the current trends in sustainable development and the reduction in the use of fossil fuels (Green Deal strategy and the circular economy), and thus, the increased interest of the polyurethane industry in polyols derived from renewable sources, it is important to [...] Read more.
Due to the current trends in sustainable development and the reduction in the use of fossil fuels (Green Deal strategy and the circular economy), and thus, the increased interest of the polyurethane industry in polyols derived from renewable sources, it is important to study the impact of these polyols on the flammability of new bioelastomers. The goal of this study was to check the influence of biobased polyols, such as tall oil (TO)-based polyols, soybean oil (SO)-based polyol, and rapeseed oil (RO)-based polyol, on the reduction in the burning and fume emissions of polyurethane and poly(urea)urethane elastomers (EPURs and EPUURs). The thermal stability of these materials was tested using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In turn, the flame retardancy and smoke emissions were checked using a cone calorimetry test. The released gases were identified using TGA coupled with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy (TGA/FT-IR). Moreover, the morphological and structural characteristics of the char residues were characterized using FT-IR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The obtained data were compared to the results received for elastomers produced with petroleum substrates. The addition of biobased polyols led to a reduction in the burning as a result of the formation of char, especially RO polyol. Moreover, the TO and RO polyols increased the thermal stability of the elastomers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Developments in Polyurethane Materials for Different Applications)
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9 pages, 5490 KiB  
Article
Counterion Effect and Isostructurality in a Series of Ag(I) Complexes Containing a Flexible, Imidazole Based Dipodal Ligand
by Liliana Dobrzańska
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1804; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071804 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1985
Abstract
The crystal structures of a series of Ag(I) complexes with 1,3-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-5-methylbenzene (L) and the counterions BF4− (1), PF6− (2), ClO4− (3), and CF3SO3− (4 [...] Read more.
The crystal structures of a series of Ag(I) complexes with 1,3-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-5-methylbenzene (L) and the counterions BF4− (1), PF6− (2), ClO4− (3), and CF3SO3− (4) were analysed to determine the effect of the latter on their formation. All resulting compounds crystallise in the non-centrosymmetric space group Cc of a monoclinic system and show the formation of cationic, polymeric 1D Ag(I) complexes. SCXRD analyses revealed that compounds 1–3 are isostructural, though 1 shows opposite handedness compared to 2 and 3, resulting in an inversed packing arrangement. The presence of the larger, elongated triflate counterion in 4 leads to a different ligand conformation, as well as different arrangements of the ligand in the cationic chain, and simultaneously results in a packing that exhibits fewer similarities with the remaining three compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crystal Growth and Structure)
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21 pages, 7507 KiB  
Article
Stoichiometry Dependence of Physical and Electrochemical Properties of the SnOx Film Anodes Deposited by Pulse DC Magnetron Sputtering
by Yibo Ma, Xiaofeng Zhang, Weiming Liu, Youxiu Wei, Ziyi Fu, Jiuyong Li, Xuan Zhang, Jingjing Peng and Yue Yan
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1803; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071803 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2236
Abstract
A batch of Sn oxides was fabricated by pulse direct current reactive magnetron sputtering (pDC−RMS) using different Ar/O2 flow ratios at 0.3 Pa; the influence of stoichiometry on the physical and electrochemical properties of the films was evaluated by the characterization of [...] Read more.
A batch of Sn oxides was fabricated by pulse direct current reactive magnetron sputtering (pDC−RMS) using different Ar/O2 flow ratios at 0.3 Pa; the influence of stoichiometry on the physical and electrochemical properties of the films was evaluated by the characterization of scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray reflection (XRR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and more. The results were as follows. First, the film surface transitioned from a particle morphology (roughness of 50.0 nm) to a smooth state (roughness of 3.7 nm) when Ar/O2 flow ratios changed from 30/0 to 23/7; second, all SnOx films were in an amorphous state, some samples deposited with low O2 flow ratios (≤2 sccm) still included metallic Sn grains. Therefore, the stoichiometry of SnOx calculated by XPS spectra increased linearly from SnO0.0.08 to SnO1.71 as the O2 flow ratios increased, and the oxidation degree was further calibrated by the average valence method and SnO2 standard material. Finally, the electrochemical performance was confirmed to be improved with the increase in oxidation degree (x) in SnOx, and the SnO1.71 film deposited with Ar/O2 = 23/7 possessed the best cycle performance, reversible capacity of 396.1 mAh/g and a capacity retention ratio of 75.4% after 50 cycles at a constant current density of 44 μA/cm2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fabrication, Characterization, and Application of Coatings and Thin Films)
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18 pages, 2010 KiB  
Review
Biomaterials for Drugs Nose–Brain Transport: A New Therapeutic Approach for Neurological Diseases
by Roberta Cassano, Camilla Servidio and Sonia Trombino
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1802; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071802 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5181
Abstract
In the last years, neurological diseases have resulted in a global health issue, representing the first cause of disability worldwide. Current therapeutic approaches against neurological disorders include oral, topical, or intravenous administration of drugs and more invasive techniques such as surgery and brain [...] Read more.
In the last years, neurological diseases have resulted in a global health issue, representing the first cause of disability worldwide. Current therapeutic approaches against neurological disorders include oral, topical, or intravenous administration of drugs and more invasive techniques such as surgery and brain implants. Unfortunately, at present, there are no fully effective treatments against neurodegenerative diseases, because they are not associated with a regeneration of the neural tissue but rather act on slowing the neurodegenerative process. The main limitation of central nervous system therapeutics is related to their delivery to the nervous system in therapeutic quantities due to the presence of the blood–brain barrier. In this regard, recently, the intranasal route has emerged as a promising administration site for central nervous system therapeutics since it provides a direct connection to the central nervous system, avoiding the passage through the blood–brain barrier, consequently increasing drug cerebral bioavailability. This review provides an overview of the nose-to-brain route: first, we summarize the anatomy of this route, focusing on the neural mechanisms responsible for the delivery of central nervous system therapeutics to the brain, and then we discuss the recent advances made on the design of intranasal drug delivery systems of central nervous system therapeutics to the brain, focusing in particular on stimuli-responsive hydrogels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterials and Biopolymers for Precision Medicine)
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27 pages, 5611 KiB  
Article
Effects of Various Types of Expandable Graphite and Blackcurrant Pomace on the Properties of Viscoelastic Polyurethane Foams
by Rafał Oliwa, Joanna Ryszkowska, Mariusz Oleksy, Monika Auguścik-Królikowska, Małgorzata Gzik, Joanna Bartoń and Grzegorz Budzik
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1801; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071801 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2633
Abstract
We investigated the effect of the type and amount of expandable graphite (EG) and blackcurrant pomace (BCP) on the flammability, thermal stability, mechanical properties, physical, and chemical structure of viscoelastic polyurethane foams (VEF). For this purpose, the polyurethane foams containing EG, BCP, and [...] Read more.
We investigated the effect of the type and amount of expandable graphite (EG) and blackcurrant pomace (BCP) on the flammability, thermal stability, mechanical properties, physical, and chemical structure of viscoelastic polyurethane foams (VEF). For this purpose, the polyurethane foams containing EG, BCP, and EG with BCP were obtained. The content of EG varied in the range of 3–15 per hundred polyols (php), while the BCP content was 30 php. Based on the obtained results, it was found that the additional introduction of BCPs into EG-containing composites allows for an additive effect in improving the functional properties of viscoelastic polyurethane foams. As a result, the composite containing 30 php of BCP and 15 php of EG with the largest particle size and expanded volume shows the largest change in the studied parameters (hardness (H) = 2.65 kPa (+16.2%), limiting oxygen index (LOI) = 26% (+44.4%), and peak heat release rate (pHRR) = 15.5 kW/m2 (−87.4%)). In addition, this composite was characterized by the highest char yield (m600 = 17.9% (+44.1%)). In turn, the change in mechanical properties is related to a change in the physical and chemical structure of the foams as indicated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Bio-Based Composite Foams)
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13 pages, 3492 KiB  
Article
Fabrication and Property Regulation of Small-Size Polyamine Microcapsules via Integrating Microfluidic T-Junction and Interfacial Polymerization
by Shaochuan Lai, Yongjun He, Daoying Xiong, Yao Wang, Kaibin Xiao, Zhibin Yan and He Zhang
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1800; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071800 - 5 Apr 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2499
Abstract
The self-healing system based on microencapsulated epoxy-amine chemistry is currently the self-healing system with the most practical application potential. It can be widely used in many epoxy-based materials with a size restriction for the microcapsules, such as fiber-reinforced composites, anti-corrosion coatings, etc. Although [...] Read more.
The self-healing system based on microencapsulated epoxy-amine chemistry is currently the self-healing system with the most practical application potential. It can be widely used in many epoxy-based materials with a size restriction for the microcapsules, such as fiber-reinforced composites, anti-corrosion coatings, etc. Although epoxy microcapsules of different sizes can be fabricated using different techniques, the preparation of polyamine microcapsules with suitable sizes and good performance is the prerequisite for further developing this self-healing system. In this investigation, based on the novel microencapsulation technique via integrating microfluidic T-junction and interfacial polymerization, the feasibility of preparing small-size polyamine microcapsules and the process regulation to optimize the properties of the small-size microcapsules were studied. We show that polyamine microcapsules with sizes smaller than 100 μm can be obtained through the T-junction selection and the feeding rate control of the polyamine. To regulate the small-size microcapsules’ quality, the effects of the concentration of the shell-forming monomer and the solvent with different polarity in the reaction solution and the reaction condition were studied. It shows that dry, free-flowing small-size microcapsules can still be obtained when the shell-forming monomer concentration is higher and the solvent’s polarity is lower, compared with the preparation of larger polyamine microcapsules. Although the change of reaction conditions (reaction temperature and duration) has a certain effect on the microcapsules’ effective core content, it is relatively small. The results of this investigation further promote the potential application of the self-healing systems based on microencapsulated epoxy-amine chemistry in materials with a size restriction for the microcapsules. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Self-Healing Materials and Devices)
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11 pages, 1250 KiB  
Review
Direct 3D Printing of Clear Orthodontic Aligners: Current State and Future Possibilities
by Gianluca M. Tartaglia, Andrea Mapelli, Cinzia Maspero, Tommaso Santaniello, Marco Serafin, Marco Farronato and Alberto Caprioglio
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1799; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071799 - 5 Apr 2021
Cited by 120 | Viewed by 15712
Abstract
The recent introduction of three-dimensional (3D) printing is revolutionizing dentistry and is even being applied to orthodontic treatment of malocclusion. Clear, personalized, removable aligners are a suitable alternative to conventional orthodontic appliances, offering a more comfortable and efficient solution for patients. Including improved [...] Read more.
The recent introduction of three-dimensional (3D) printing is revolutionizing dentistry and is even being applied to orthodontic treatment of malocclusion. Clear, personalized, removable aligners are a suitable alternative to conventional orthodontic appliances, offering a more comfortable and efficient solution for patients. Including improved oral hygiene and aesthetics during treatment. Contemporarily, clear aligners are produced by a thermoforming process using various types of thermoplastic materials. The thermoforming procedure alters the properties of the material, and the intraoral environment further modifies the properties of a clear aligner, affecting overall performance of the material. Direct 3D printing offers the creation of highly precise clear aligners with soft edges, digitally designed and identically reproduced for an entire set of treatment aligners; offering a better fit, higher efficacy, and reproducibility. Despite the known benefits of 3D printing and the popularity of its dental applications, very limited technical and clinical data are available in the literature about directly printed clear aligners. The present article discusses the advantages of 3D printed aligners in comparison to thermoformed ones, describes the current state of the art, including a discussion of the possible road blocks that exist such as a current lack of approved and marketed materials and limited existence of aligner specific software. The present review suggests the suitability of 3D direct printed aligners is superior to that of thermoformed manufactured aligners because of the prior’s increased accuracy, load resistance, and lower deformation. It is an overall more stable way to produce an aligner where submillimeter movements can make a difference in treatment outcome. Direct 3D printing represents a complex method to control the thickness of the aligner and therefore has a better ability to control the force vectors that are used to produce tooth movement. There is currently no other approved material on the market that can do this. The conclusion of this article is that we encourage further in vitro and in vivo studies to test these new technologies and materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current and Future Trends in Orthodontic Materials)
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16 pages, 2829 KiB  
Article
Establishing the Carbonation Profile with Raman Spectroscopy: Effects of Fly Ash and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag
by Yanfei Yue, Jing Jing Wang, P. A. Muhammed Basheer and Yun Bai
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1798; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071798 - 5 Apr 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3237
Abstract
Establishing the carbonation profile is of great significance to the prediction of the service life of reinforced concrete structures. In our previous work, Raman spectroscopy was shown to be an efficient tool for characterizing calcium carbonate (CaCO3) polymorphs and their profile [...] Read more.
Establishing the carbonation profile is of great significance to the prediction of the service life of reinforced concrete structures. In our previous work, Raman spectroscopy was shown to be an efficient tool for characterizing calcium carbonate (CaCO3) polymorphs and their profile in plain Portland cement (PC) matrices. However, as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), particularly fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), are widely used in concrete, establishing the carbonation profile without considering the possible effects of these SCMs could be of little significance to the real world. This paper, thus, investigated the effects of FA and GGBS on the working capacity and reliability of Raman spectroscopy for establishing the carbonation profile in PC blends containing SCMs. The thermogravimetry (TG) analysis was also conducted to verify the results from Raman spectroscopy. The results show that Raman spectroscopy demonstrated a good capacity for differentiating the variation of CaCO3 contents in FA or GGBS blends. However, the incorporation of FA and GGBS into the PC system caused some adverse effects on the quantification of CaCO3 by Raman spectroscopy, which could be attributed to the darker color and weak scatter nature of FA and the high content of glassy phases in GGBS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Construction and Building Materials)
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22 pages, 25000 KiB  
Article
Investigations on the Effect of Layers’ Thickness and Orientations in the Machining of Additively Manufactured Stainless Steel 316L
by Abdulmajeed Dabwan, Saqib Anwar, Ali M. Al-Samhan, Abdullah AlFaify and Mustafa M. Nasr
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1797; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071797 - 5 Apr 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3102
Abstract
Laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) process is a family of modern technologies, in which functional, complex (3D) parts are formed by selectively melting the metallic powders layer-by-layer based on fusion. The machining of L-PBF parts for improving their quality is a difficult task. This [...] Read more.
Laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) process is a family of modern technologies, in which functional, complex (3D) parts are formed by selectively melting the metallic powders layer-by-layer based on fusion. The machining of L-PBF parts for improving their quality is a difficult task. This is because different component orientations (L-PBF-layer orientations) produce different quality of machined surface even though the same cutting parameters are applied. In this paper, stainless steel grade SS 316L parts from L-PBF were subjected to the finishing (milling) process to study the effect of part orientations. Furthermore, an attempt is made to suppress the part orientation effect by changing the layer thickness (LT) of the parts during the L-PBF process. L-PBF parts were fabricated with four different layer thicknesses of 30, 60, 80 and 100 μm to see the effect of the LT on the finish milling process. The results showed that the layer thickness of 60 μm has significantly suppressed the part orientation effect as compared to the other three-layer thicknesses of 30, 80 and 100 μm. The milling results showed that the three-layer thickness including 30, 80 and 100 μm presented up to a 34% difference in surface roughness among different part orientations while using the same milling parameters. In contrast, the layer thickness of 60 μm showed uniform surface roughness for the three-part orientations having a variation of 5–17%. Similarly, the three-layer thicknesses 30, 80 and 100 μm showed up to a 25%, 34% and 56% difference of axial force (Fa), feed force (Ff) and radial force (Fr), respectively. On the other hand, the part produced with layer thickness 60 μm showed up to 11%, 25% and 28% difference in cutting force components Fa, Ff and Fr, respectively. The three-layer thicknesses 30, 80 and 100 μm in micro-hardness were found to vary by up to 14.7% for the three-part orientation. Negligible micro-hardness differences of 1.7% were revealed by the parts with LT 60 μm across different part orientations as compared to 6.5–14% variations for the parts with layer thickness of 30, 80 and 100 μm. Moreover, the parts with LT 60 μm showed uniform and superior surface morphology and reduced edge chipping across all the part orientations. This study revealed that the effect of part orientation during milling becomes minimum and improved machined surface integrity is achieved if the L-PBF parts are fabricated with a layer thickness of 60 μm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing of Advanced Materials: Applications, Future Trends and Perspectives of Industry 4.0)
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25 pages, 5394 KiB  
Article
Mechanical and Thermal Behavior of Fibrous Carbon Materials
by Blagoj Karakashov, M’Barek Taghite, Richard Kouitat, Vanessa Fierro and Alain Celzard
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1796; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071796 - 5 Apr 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4294
Abstract
The ability of various commercial fibrous carbon materials to withstand stress and conduct heat has been evaluated through experimental and analytical studies. The combined effects of different micro/macro-structural characteristics were discussed and compared. Large differences in mechanical behavior were observed between the different [...] Read more.
The ability of various commercial fibrous carbon materials to withstand stress and conduct heat has been evaluated through experimental and analytical studies. The combined effects of different micro/macro-structural characteristics were discussed and compared. Large differences in mechanical behavior were observed between the different groups or subgroups of fibrous materials, due to the different types of fibers and the mechanical and/or chemical bonds between them. The application of the Mooney–Rivlin model made it possible to determine the elastic modulus of soft felts, with a few exceptions, which were studied in-depth. The possible use of two different mechanical test methods allowed a comparison of the results in terms of elastic modulus obtained under different deformation regimes. The effective thermal conductivity of the same fibrous materials was also studied and found to be much lower than that of a single carbon fiber due to the high porosity, and varied with the bulk density and the fiber organization involving more or less thermal contact resistances. The thermal conductivity of most materials is highly anisotropic, with higher values in the direction of preferential fiber orientation. Finally, the combination of compression and transient thermal conductivity measurement techniques allowed the heat conduction properties of the commercial fibrous carbons to be investigated experimentally when compressed. It was observed that thermal conductivity is strongly affected under compression, especially perpendicular to the main fiber orientation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Collection on Porous Materials)
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16 pages, 1677 KiB  
Article
Optimisation of Shrinkage and Strength on Thick Plate Part Using Recycled LDPE Materials
by Norshahira Roslan, Shayfull Zamree Abd Rahim, Abdellah El-hadj Abdellah, Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah, Katarzyna Błoch, Paweł Pietrusiewicz, Marcin Nabiałek, Janusz Szmidla, Dariusz Kwiatkowski, Joel Oliveira Correia Vasco, Mohd Nasir Mat Saad and Mohd Fathullah Ghazali
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1795; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071795 - 5 Apr 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3089
Abstract
Achieving good quality of products from plastic injection moulding processes is very challenging, since the process comprises many affecting parameters. Common defects such as warpage are hard to avoid, and the defective parts will eventually go to waste, leading to unnecessary costs to [...] Read more.
Achieving good quality of products from plastic injection moulding processes is very challenging, since the process comprises many affecting parameters. Common defects such as warpage are hard to avoid, and the defective parts will eventually go to waste, leading to unnecessary costs to the manufacturer. The use of recycled material from postindustrial waste has been studied by a few researchers. However, the application of an optimisation method by which to optimise processing parameters to mould parts using recycled materials remains lacking. In this study, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) methods were conducted on thick plate parts moulded using virgin and recycled low-density polyethylene (LDPE) materials (100:0, 70:30, 60:40 and 50:50; virgin to recycle material ratios) to find the optimal input parameters for each of the material ratios. Shrinkage in the x and y directions increased in correlation with the recycled ratio, compared to virgin material. Meanwhile, the tensile strength of the thick plate part continued to decrease when the recycled ratio increased. R30 (70:30) had the optimum shrinkage in the x direction with respect to R0 (100:0) material where the shrinkage increased by 24.49% (RSM) and 33.20% (PSO). On the other hand, the shrinkage in the y direction for R30 material increased by 4.48% (RSM) and decreased by 2.67% (PSO), while the tensile strength of R30 (70:30) material decreased by 0.51% (RSM) and 2.68% (PSO) as compared to R0 (100:0) material. Validation tests indicated that the optimal setting of processing parameter suggested by PSO and RSM for R0 (100:0), R30 (70:30), R40 (60:40) and R50 (50:50) was less than 10%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Properties of Amorphous Materials and Nanomaterials)
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27 pages, 12188 KiB  
Article
Effects of Deposition Strategy and Preheating Temperature on Thermo-Mechanical Characteristics of Inconel 718 Super-Alloy Deposited on AISI 1045 Substrate Using a DED Process
by Ho Kim, Kwang-Kyu Lee, Dong-Gyu Ahn and Hyub Lee
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1794; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071794 - 5 Apr 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3338
Abstract
Thermomechanical characteristics are highly dependent on the deposition strategy of the directed energy deposition (DED) process, including the deposition path, the interpass time, the deposition volume, etc., as well as the preheating condition of the substrate. This paper aims to investigate the effects [...] Read more.
Thermomechanical characteristics are highly dependent on the deposition strategy of the directed energy deposition (DED) process, including the deposition path, the interpass time, the deposition volume, etc., as well as the preheating condition of the substrate. This paper aims to investigate the effects of the deposition strategy and the preheating temperature on thermomechanical characteristics of Inconel 718 super-alloy deposited on an AISI 1045 substrate using a DED process via finite element analyses (FEAs). FE models for different deposition strategies and preheating temperatures are created to examine the thermomechanical behavior. Sixteen deposition strategies are adopted to perform FEAs. The heat sink coefficient is estimated from a comparison of temperature histories of experiments and those of FEAs to obtain appropriate FE models. The influence of deposition strategies on residual stress distributions in the designed model for a small volume deposition is examined to determine feasible deposition strategies. In addition, the effects of the deposition strategy and the preheating temperature on residual stress distributions of the designed part for large volume deposition are investigated to predict a suitable deposition strategy of the DED head and appropriate preheating temperature of the substrate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Its Applications Using Advanced Materials)
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37 pages, 12160 KiB  
Article
Post Fire Residual Strength of the Wall-Slab Using Siliceous Concrete
by Su-Hyeon Lee and Byong-Jeong Choi
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1793; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071793 - 5 Apr 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2753
Abstract
It is very important to understand the residual performance of a structure for repair, retrofit, and reuse of a building after a fire. In this study, an experiment is conducted on the residual performance of real-scale siliceous aggregates-based reinforced concrete (RC) wall-slab connection [...] Read more.
It is very important to understand the residual performance of a structure for repair, retrofit, and reuse of a building after a fire. In this study, an experiment is conducted on the residual performance of real-scale siliceous aggregates-based reinforced concrete (RC) wall-slab connection (WSC) after the fire, using the simple calculation method (SCM) of standards (Eurocode, ACI, and NIST) for comparison and analysis. A description of the WSC specimen and detailed methods for the experiment are introduced. The fire test is conducted according to the fire scenario by dividing it into one-sided and two-sided heating based on the wall. In the post-fire residual performance test, the load–displacement and moment-deflection angle relationship according to the fire time are derived and discussed. In addition, the residual mechanical properties after the fire are derived for the 35 MPa siliceous concrete used in the wall-slab specimen. The load and moment, derived using SCM, are compared with the experimental results. Our results show that the one-sided heating test result is close to that of Eurocode’s SCM, and the two-sided heating test result is close to that of ACI (NIST)’s SCM. This study provides a database on the residual strength through a real-scale fire test and standard comparison. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Construction and Building Materials)
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13 pages, 1666 KiB  
Article
A Prediction Model for the Calculation of Effective Stiffness Ratios of Reinforced Concrete Columns
by Sourav Das, Iman Mansouri, Satyabrata Choudhury, Amir H. Gandomi and Jong Wan Hu
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1792; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071792 - 5 Apr 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3009
Abstract
Nonlinear dynamic analyses of reinforced concrete (RC) frame buildings require the use of effective stiffness of members to capture the effect of cracked section stiffness. In the design codes and practices, the effective stiffness of RC sections is given as an empirical fraction [...] Read more.
Nonlinear dynamic analyses of reinforced concrete (RC) frame buildings require the use of effective stiffness of members to capture the effect of cracked section stiffness. In the design codes and practices, the effective stiffness of RC sections is given as an empirical fraction of the gross stiffness. However, a more precise estimation of the effective stiffness is important as it affects the distribution of forces and various demands and response parameters in nonlinear dynamic analyses. In this study, an evolutionary computation method called gene expression programming (GEP) was used to predict the effective stiffness ratios of RC columns. Constitutive relationships were obtained by correlating the effective stiffness ratio with the four mechanical and geometrical parameters. The model was developed using a database of 226 samples of nonlinear dynamic analysis results collected from another study by the author. Subsequent parametric and sensitivity analyses were performed and the trends of the results were confirmed. The results indicate that the GEP model provides precise estimations of the effective stiffness ratios of the RC frames. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Concrete in Structural Engineering: Fabrication and Mechanical Behavior)
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9 pages, 2036 KiB  
Article
Effects of 3D Printing-Line Directions for Stretchable Sensor Performances
by Chi Cuong Vu, Thanh Tai Nguyen, Sangun Kim and Jooyong Kim
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1791; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071791 - 5 Apr 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3216
Abstract
Health monitoring sensors that are attached to clothing are a new trend of the times, especially stretchable sensors for human motion measurements or biological markers. However, price, durability, and performance always are major problems to be addressed and three-dimensional (3D) printing combined with [...] Read more.
Health monitoring sensors that are attached to clothing are a new trend of the times, especially stretchable sensors for human motion measurements or biological markers. However, price, durability, and performance always are major problems to be addressed and three-dimensional (3D) printing combined with conductive flexible materials (thermoplastic polyurethane) can be an optimal solution. Herein, we evaluate the effects of 3D printing-line directions (45°, 90°, 180°) on the sensor performances. Using fused filament fabrication (FDM) technology, the sensors are created with different print styles for specific purposes. We also discuss some main issues of the stretch sensors from Carbon Nanotube/Thermoplastic Polyurethane (CNT/TPU) and FDM. Our sensor achieves outstanding stability (10,000 cycles) and reliability, which are verified through repeated measurements. Its capability is demonstrated in a real application when detecting finger motion by a sensor-integrated into gloves. This paper is expected to bring contribution to the development of flexible conductive materials—based on 3D printing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Experimental Testing and Numerical Simulation of Polymer-Based Additive Manufacturing Parts)
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15 pages, 4309 KiB  
Article
Influence of Silica-Aerogel on Mechanical Characteristics of Polyurethane-Based Composites: Thermal Conductivity and Strength
by Jeong-Hyeon Kim, Jae-Hyeok Ahn, Jeong-Dae Kim, Dong-Ha Lee, Seul-Kee Kim and Jae-Myung Lee
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1790; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071790 - 5 Apr 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3720
Abstract
Polyurethane foam (PUF) has generally been used in liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier cargo containment systems (CCSs) owing to its excellent mechanical and thermal properties over a wide range of temperatures. An LNG CCS must be designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions. However, [...] Read more.
Polyurethane foam (PUF) has generally been used in liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier cargo containment systems (CCSs) owing to its excellent mechanical and thermal properties over a wide range of temperatures. An LNG CCS must be designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions. However, as the insulation material for LNGC CCSs, PUF has two major limitations: its strength and thermal conductivity. In the present study, PUFs were synthesized with various weight percentages of porous silica aerogel to reinforce the characteristics of PUF used in LNG carrier insulation systems. To evaluate the mechanical strength of the PUF-silica aerogel composites considering LNG loading/unloading environmental conditions, compressive tests were conducted at room temperature (20 °C) and a cryogenic temperature (−163 °C). In addition, the thermal insulation performance and cellular structure were identified to analyze the effects of silica aerogels on cell morphology. The cell morphology of PUF-silica aerogel composites was relatively homogeneous, and the cell shape remained closed at 1 wt.% in comparison to the other concentrations. As a result, the mechanical and thermal properties were significantly improved by the addition of 1 wt.% silica aerogel to the PUF. The mechanical properties were reduced by increasing the silica aerogel content to 3 wt.% and 5 wt.%, mainly because of the pores generated on the surface of the composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Materials Physics)
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12 pages, 4943 KiB  
Article
A Pocket-Textured Surface for Improving the Tribological Properties of Point Contact under Starved Lubrication
by Wei Wang, Wenhan Zhao, Yang Liu, Hui Zhang, Meng Hua, Guangneng Dong, Hon-Yuen Tam and Kwai-Sang Chin
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1789; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071789 - 5 Apr 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2795
Abstract
This paper reports a novel pocket-textured surface for improving the tribological properties of point contact under starved lubrication by possibly storing and releasing oil, and homogenizing the surface contact pressure. The ball-on-disk experimental results confirmed the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear reduction [...] Read more.
This paper reports a novel pocket-textured surface for improving the tribological properties of point contact under starved lubrication by possibly storing and releasing oil, and homogenizing the surface contact pressure. The ball-on-disk experimental results confirmed the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear reduction effect of such pocket-texturing. The maximum reduction rate was 40% compared with a flat surface under the same operating conditions. Analyses on experimental results attributed the oil storage effect and enhanced the secondary lubrication effect within the starved lubrication state, to become the main mechanism. In addition, the plate elasticity and the Hertzian contact principles were employed to estimate the pressure and the load acting on the surface. The experimental results and numerical analysis substantiated the design of pocket-textured surface, making it likely to enlarge about 50% of contact surface and to reduce 90% of equivalent stress in comparison to those of conventional surfaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Friction and Wear of Materials Surfaces)
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23 pages, 5148 KiB  
Review
Characterization of Hybrid Materials Prepared by Sol-Gel Method for Biomedical Implementations. A Critical Review
by Michelina Catauro and Stefano Vecchio Ciprioti
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1788; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071788 - 5 Apr 2021
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 5223
Abstract
The interaction between tissues and biomaterials (BM) has the purpose of improving and replacing anatomical parts of the human body, avoiding the occurrence of adverse reactions in the host organism. Unfortunately, the early failure of implants cannot be currently avoided, since neither a [...] Read more.
The interaction between tissues and biomaterials (BM) has the purpose of improving and replacing anatomical parts of the human body, avoiding the occurrence of adverse reactions in the host organism. Unfortunately, the early failure of implants cannot be currently avoided, since neither a good mixture of mechanical and chemical characteristics of materials nor their biocompatibility has been yet achieved. Bioactive glasses are recognized to be a fine class of bioactive substances for good repair and replacement. BM interact with living bones through the formation of a hydroxyapatite surface layer that is analogous to bones. Bioglasses’ composition noticeably affects their biological properties, as does the synthesis method, with the best one being the versatile sol-gel technique, which includes the change of scheme from a ‘sol’ fluid into a ‘gel’. This process is widely used to prepare many materials for biomedical implants (e.g., hip and knee prostheses, heart valves, and ceramic, glassy and hybrid materials to serve as carriers for drug release). Nanoparticles prepared by the sol-gel method are interesting systems for biomedical implementations, and particularly useful for cancer therapy. This review provides many examples concerning the synthesis and characterization of the above-mentioned materials either taken from literature and from recently prepared zirconia/polyethylene glycol (PEG) hybrids, and the corresponding results are extensively discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biomaterials: Design, Synthesis, Characterisation and Biomedical Application)
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16 pages, 1676 KiB  
Article
Phase-Field Modeling of Chemoelastic Binodal/Spinodal Relations and Solute Segregation to Defects in Binary Alloys
by Jaber Rezaei Mianroodi, Pratheek Shanthraj, Bob Svendsen and Dierk Raabe
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1787; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071787 - 5 Apr 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3081
Abstract
Microscopic phase-field chemomechanics (MPFCM) is employed in the current work to model solute segregation, dislocation-solute interaction, spinodal decomposition, and precipitate formation, at straight dislocations and configurations of these in a model binary solid alloy. In particular, (i) a single static edge dipole, (ii) [...] Read more.
Microscopic phase-field chemomechanics (MPFCM) is employed in the current work to model solute segregation, dislocation-solute interaction, spinodal decomposition, and precipitate formation, at straight dislocations and configurations of these in a model binary solid alloy. In particular, (i) a single static edge dipole, (ii) arrays of static dipoles forming low-angle tilt (edge) and twist (screw) grain boundaries, as well as at (iii) a moving (gliding) edge dipole, are considered. In the first part of the work, MPFCM is formulated for such an alloy. Central here is the MPFCM model for the alloy free energy, which includes chemical, dislocation, and lattice (elastic), contributions. The solute concentration-dependence of the latter due to solute lattice misfit results in a strong elastic influence on the binodal (i.e., coexistence) and spinodal behavior of the alloy. In addition, MPFCM-based modeling of energy storage couples the thermodynamic forces driving (Cottrell and Suzuki) solute segregation, precipitate formation and dislocation glide. As implied by the simulation results for edge dislocation dipoles and their configurations, there is a competition between (i) Cottrell segregation to dislocations resulting in a uniform solute distribution along the line, and (ii) destabilization of this distribution due to low-dimensional spinodal decomposition when the segregated solute content at the line exceeds the spinodal value locally, i.e., at and along the dislocation line. Due to the completely different stress field of the screw dislocation configuration in the twist boundary, the segregated solute distribution is immediately unstable and decomposes into precipitates from the start. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strong Coupling of Thermo-Chemical and Thermo-Mechanical States in Applied Materials)
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20 pages, 6426 KiB  
Article
Multidimensional Ln-Aminophthalate Photoluminescent Coordination Polymers
by Carla Queirós, Chen Sun, Ana M. G. Silva, Baltazar de Castro, Juan Cabanillas-Gonzalez and Luís Cunha-Silva
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1786; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071786 - 4 Apr 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2700
Abstract
The development of straightforward reproducible methods for the preparation of new photoluminescent coordination polymers (CPs) is an important goal in luminescence and chemical sensing fields. Isophthalic acid derivatives have been reported for a wide range of applications, and in addition to their relatively [...] Read more.
The development of straightforward reproducible methods for the preparation of new photoluminescent coordination polymers (CPs) is an important goal in luminescence and chemical sensing fields. Isophthalic acid derivatives have been reported for a wide range of applications, and in addition to their relatively low cost, have encouraged its use in the preparation of novel lanthanide-based coordination polymers (LnCPs). Considering that the photoluminescent properties of these CPs are highly dependent on the existence of water molecules in the crystal structure, our research efforts are now focused on the preparation of CP with the lowest water content possible, while considering a green chemistry approach. One- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) LnCPs were prepared from 5-aminoisophthalic acid and Sm3+/Tb3+ using hydrothermal and/or microwave-assisted synthesis. The unprecedented LnCPs were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCRXD), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and their photoluminescence (PL) properties were studied in the solid state, at room temperature, using the CPs as powders and encapsulated in poly(methyl methacrylate (PMMA) films, envisaging the potential preparation of devices for sensing. The materials revealed interesting PL properties that depend on the dimensionality, metal ion, co-ligand used and water content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coordination Polymers: Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Multifunctional Applications)
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25 pages, 12930 KiB  
Article
Validation of Stainless-Steel CHS Columns Finite Element Models
by Daniel Jindra, Zdeněk Kala and Jiří Kala
Materials 2021, 14(7), 1785; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071785 - 4 Apr 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4675
Abstract
Stainless-steel elements are increasingly used in a wide range of load-bearing structures due to their strength, minimal maintenance requirements, and aesthetic appearance. Their response differs from standard steels; therefore, it is necessary to choose a different procedure when creating a correct computational model. [...] Read more.
Stainless-steel elements are increasingly used in a wide range of load-bearing structures due to their strength, minimal maintenance requirements, and aesthetic appearance. Their response differs from standard steels; therefore, it is necessary to choose a different procedure when creating a correct computational model. Seven groups of numerical models differing in the used formulation of elements integration, mesh density localization, nonlinear material model, and initial geometric imperfection were calibrated. The results of these advanced simulations were validated with published results obtained by an extensive experimental approach on circular hollow sections columns. With regard to the different slenderness of the cross-sections, the influence of the initial imperfection in the form of global and local loss of stability on the response was studied. Responses of all models were validated by comparing the averaged normalized ultimate loads and the averaged normalized deflections with experimentally obtained results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Concrete and Steel Technology and Simulation)
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