Manufacture and Cytotoxicity of a Lead-free Piezoelectric Ceramic as a Bone Substitute—Consolidation of Porous Lithium Sodium Potassium Niobate by Cold Isostatic Pressing

Aim The piezoelectric properties and cytotoxicity of a porous lead-free piezoelectric ceramic for use as a direct bone substitute were investigated. Methodology Cold isostatic pressing （CIP） was applied to fabricate porous lithium sodium potassium niobate （Li0.06Na0.5K0.44） NbO3 specimens using a pore-forming method. The morphologies of the CIP-processed specimens were characterized and compared to those of specimens made by from conventional pressing procedures. The effects of the ceramic on the attachment and proliferation of osteoblasts isolated from the cranium of 1-day-old Sprague- Dawley rats were examined by a scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and metbylthiazol tetrazolium （MTT） assay. Results The results showed that CIP enhanced piezoelectricity and biological performance of the niobate specimen, and also promoted an extracellular matrix-like topography of it. In vitro studies showed that the CIP-enhanced material had positive effects on the attachment and proliferation of osteoblasts. Conclusion Niobate ceramic generated by CIP shows a promise for being a piezoelectric composite bone substitute.

Powder Extrusion Molding of Nanocrystalline WC-10Co Composite Cemented Carbide

The rods that were shaped from nanocrystalline WC- 10.21 Co-0.42 VC/ Cr3 C2 （ wt% ） composite powders by using powder extrusion molding （PEM） were investigated. The nanocrystalline WC- 10.21 Co- 0. 42 VC/ Cr3 C2 （ wt% ） composite powders were prepared by the spray thermal decomposition-continuous reduction and carburization technology. In order to improve the properties of rods shaped by using powder extrusion molding, the cold isostatic pressing （CIP） technology was used before or after debinding. Specimens were siutered by vacuum siutering and hot isostatic pressing （HIP）. The density, Rockwell A hardness, magnetic coercivity , and magnetic saturation induction of siutered specimen were measured. The microstructure of the green bodies and the siutered specimens was studied by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. Results show that the rod formed by using powder extrusion molding after debinding and followed by cold isostatic pressing can be siutered to 99.5% density of composite cemented carbide rods with an average grain size of about 200- 300 nm, magnetic coercivity of 30.4 KA / m, Rockwell A hardness of 92.6 and magnetic saturation induction of 85% . Superfine WC- 10 Co cemented carbide rods with excellent properties were obtained.

Fabrication of aluminum matrix composite reinforced with carbon nanotubes

1.0wt.% carbon nanotube （CNT） reinforced 2024Al matrix composite was fabricated by cold isostatic press and subsequent hot extrusion techniques. The mechanical properties of the composite were measured by a tensile test. Mean-while,the fracture surfaces were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy. The experimental results show that CNTs are dispersed homogeneously in the composite and that the interfaces of the Al matrix and the CNT bond well. Although the tensile strength and the Young’s modulus of the composite are enhanced markedly,the elongation does not decrease when compared with the matrix material fabricated under the same process. The reasons for the increments may be the extraordinary mechanical properties of CNTs,and the bridging and pulling-out role of CNTs in the Al matrix composite.

Microstructure and thermoelectric properties of Bi1.9Lu0.1Te3 compound

Effect of fabrication conditions on microstructure and thermoelectric properties of the Bi1.9Lu0.lTe3 compound was studied. Starting nanopowder with mean nanoparticle size of -37 nm was synthesized by a microwave-solvothermal method. In order to prepare samples with various micro-grained structures, the synthesized nanopowder was compacted by two methods. The first method is cold isostatic pressing with further high- temperature annealing, while the second method is spark plasma sintering at various temperatures of process （653 and 683 K）. It is found that mean grain size is equal to -290,-730 and -1160 nm for cold isostatically pressed and spark plasma sintered at 653 and 683 K samples, respectively. The micro-grained sample with maximum mean grain size shows the best thermoelectric properties. This sample is structurally inhomogeneous and has the lowest thermal conductivity and the specific electrical resistivity. Maximum dimensionless figure of merit for this sample is equal to -0.9 for temperature range of 450-500 K.