scholarly journals Surface Structuring via Additive Manufacturing to Improve the Performance of Metal and Polymer Joints

Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 567
Author(s):  
Xin Zou ◽  
Lifu Huang ◽  
Ke Chen ◽  
Muyang Jiang ◽  
Shanyong Zhang ◽  
...  

In order to enhance the joint performance of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy (TC4) and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for biomedical applications, different structures were fabricated on TC4 surfaces via electron beam melting (EBM) method in this study. Macromorphologies and microinterfaces of TC4–UHMWPE joints produced via hot pressing technique were carefully characterized and analyzed. The effects of different surface structures on mechanical properties and fractured surfaces were investigated and compared. Strong direct bonding (1751 N) between UHMWPE and TC4 was achieved. The interfacial bonding behavior of TC4–UHMWPE joints was further discussed. This study demonstrates the importance of combining macro- and micromechanical interlocking, which is a promising strategy for improving metal–polymer joint performance. It also provides guidance for metal surface structuring from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (28) ◽  
pp. 4622-4646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huayu Liu ◽  
Kun Liu ◽  
Xiao Han ◽  
Hongxiang Xie ◽  
Chuanling Si ◽  
...  

Background: Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNFs) are natural nanomaterials with nanometer dimensions. Compared with ordinary cellulose, CNFs own good mechanical properties, large specific surface areas, high Young's modulus, strong hydrophilicity and other distinguishing characteristics, which make them widely used in many fields. This review aims to introduce the preparation of CNFs-based hydrogels and their recent biomedical application advances. Methods: By searching the recent literatures, we have summarized the preparation methods of CNFs, including mechanical methods and chemical mechanical methods, and also introduced the fabrication methods of CNFs-based hydrogels, including CNFs cross-linked with metal ion and with polymers. In addition, we have summarized the biomedical applications of CNFs-based hydrogels, including scaffold materials and wound dressings. Results: CNFs-based hydrogels are new types of materials that are non-toxic and display a certain mechanical strength. In the tissue scaffold application, they can provide a micro-environment for the damaged tissue to repair and regenerate it. In wound dressing applications, it can fit the wound surface and protect the wound from the external environment, thereby effectively promoting the healing of skin tissue. Conclusion: By summarizing the preparation and application of CNFs-based hydrogels, we have analyzed and forecasted their development trends. At present, the research of CNFs-based hydrogels is still in the laboratory stage. It needs further exploration to be applied in practice. The development of medical hydrogels with high mechanical properties and biocompatibility still poses significant challenges.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 404
Author(s):  
Nur Sharmila Sharip ◽  
Hidayah Ariffin ◽  
Tengku Arisyah Tengku Yasim-Anuar ◽  
Yoshito Andou ◽  
Yuki Shirosaki ◽  
...  

The major hurdle in melt-processing of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposite lies on the high melt viscosity of the UHMWPE, which may contribute to poor dispersion and distribution of the nanofiller. In this study, UHMWPE/cellulose nanofiber (UHMWPE/CNF) bionanocomposites were prepared by two different blending methods: (i) melt blending at 150 °C in a triple screw kneading extruder, and (ii) non-melt blending by ethanol mixing at room temperature. Results showed that melt-processing of UHMWPE without CNF (MB-UHMWPE/0) exhibited an increment in yield strength and Young’s modulus by 15% and 25%, respectively, compared to the Neat-UHMWPE. Tensile strength was however reduced by almost half. Ethanol mixed sample without CNF (EM-UHMWPE/0) on the other hand showed slight decrement in all mechanical properties tested. At 0.5% CNF inclusion, the mechanical properties of melt-blended bionanocomposites (MB-UHMWPE/0.5) were improved as compared to Neat-UHMWPE. It was also found that the yield strength, elongation at break, Young’s modulus, toughness and crystallinity of MB-UHMWPE/0.5 were higher by 28%, 61%, 47%, 45% and 11%, respectively, as compared to the ethanol mixing sample (EM-UHMWPE/0.5). Despite the reduction in tensile strength of MB-UHMWPE/0.5, the value i.e., 28.4 ± 1.0 MPa surpassed the minimum requirement of standard specification for fabricated UHMWPE in surgical implant application. Overall, melt-blending processing is more suitable for the preparation of UHMWPE/CNF bionanocomposites as exhibited by their characteristics presented herein. A better mechanical interlocking between UHMWPE and CNF at high temperature mixing with kneading was evident through FE-SEM observation, explains the higher mechanical properties of MB-UHMWPE/0.5 as compared to EM-UHMWPE/0.5.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 433
Author(s):  
Sara Trujillo ◽  
Melanie Seow ◽  
Aline Lueckgen ◽  
Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez ◽  
Amaia Cipitria

Alginate is a polysaccharide used extensively in biomedical applications due to its biocompatibility and suitability for hydrogel fabrication using mild reaction chemistries. Though alginate has commonly been crosslinked using divalent cations, covalent crosslinking chemistries have also been developed. Hydrogels with tuneable mechanical properties are required for many biomedical applications to mimic the stiffness of different tissues. Here, we present a strategy to engineer alginate hydrogels with tuneable mechanical properties by covalent crosslinking of a norbornene-modified alginate using ultraviolet (UV)-initiated thiol-ene chemistry. We also demonstrate that the system can be functionalised with cues such as full-length fibronectin and protease-degradable sequences. Finally, we take advantage of alginate’s ability to be crosslinked covalently and ionically to design dual crosslinked constructs enabling dynamic control of mechanical properties, with gels that undergo cycles of stiffening–softening by adding and quenching calcium cations. Overall, we present a versatile hydrogel with tuneable and dynamic mechanical properties, and incorporate cell-interactive features such as cell-mediated protease-induced degradability and full-length proteins, which may find applications in a variety of biomedical contexts.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3603
Author(s):  
Tim Pasang ◽  
Benny Tavlovich ◽  
Omry Yannay ◽  
Ben Jakson ◽  
Mike Fry ◽  
...  

An investigation of mechanical properties of Ti6Al4V produced by additive manufacturing (AM) in the as-printed condition have been conducted and compared with wrought alloys. The AM samples were built by Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and Electron Beam Melting (EBM) in 0°, 45° and 90°—relative to horizontal direction. Similarly, the wrought samples were also cut and tested in the same directions relative to the plate rolling direction. The microstructures of the samples were significantly different on all samples. α′ martensite was observed on the SLM, acicular α on EBM and combination of both on the wrought alloy. EBM samples had higher surface roughness (Ra) compared with both SLM and wrought alloy. SLM samples were comparatively harder than wrought alloy and EBM. Tensile strength of the wrought alloy was higher in all directions except for 45°, where SLM samples showed higher strength than both EBM and wrought alloy on that direction. The ductility of the wrought alloy was consistently higher than both SLM and EBM indicated by clear necking feature on the wrought alloy samples. Dimples were observed on all fracture surfaces.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erfan Dashtimoghadam ◽  
Farahnaz Fahimipour ◽  
Andrew N. Keith ◽  
Foad Vashahi ◽  
Pavel Popryadukhin ◽  
...  

AbstractCurrent materials used in biomedical devices do not match tissue’s mechanical properties and leach various chemicals into the body. These deficiencies pose significant health risks that are further exacerbated by invasive implantation procedures. Herein, we leverage the brush-like polymer architecture to design and administer minimally invasive injectable elastomers that cure in vivo into leachable-free implants with mechanical properties matching the surrounding tissue. This strategy allows tuning curing time from minutes to hours, which empowers a broad range of biomedical applications from rapid wound sealing to time-intensive reconstructive surgery. These injectable elastomers support in vitro cell proliferation, while also demonstrating in vivo implant integrity with a mild inflammatory response and minimal fibrotic encapsulation.


2013 ◽  
Vol 341 ◽  
pp. 169-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M. Abdul-Kader ◽  
Y.A. El-Gendy ◽  
Awad A. Al-Rashdi ◽  
A.M. Salem

The effect of ion beam bombardment on the optical and mechanical properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was investigated. UHMWPE polymer samples were bombarded with 150 keV N2ions under vacuum at room temperature to high fluences ranging from 1x1016to 2x1017ions cm-2. The untreated as well as treated samples were investigated by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer and Vickers micro-hardness techniques. The direct and indirect optical band gap decreased from 2.9 and 1.65 eV for pristine sample to 1.7 and 1 eV for those bombarded with N2ion beam at the highest fluence, respectively. With increasing ion fluence, an increase in the number of carbon atoms per conjugation length, N and number of carbon atoms per cluster, M in a formed cluster were observed. A significant improvement in surface hardness was obtained by increasing the ion fluence.


Author(s):  
M. Hatakeyama ◽  
N. Masahashi ◽  
Y. Michiyama ◽  
H. Inoue ◽  
S. Hanada

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