Hydroxyapatite/polylactide (HA/PLA) composites have been intensively investigated for their potential as biodegradable fixation devices to heal bone fractures. However, most of these composites failed to achieve a bon...Hydroxyapatite/polylactide (HA/PLA) composites have been intensively investigated for their potential as biodegradable fixation devices to heal bone fractures. However, most of these composites failed to achieve a bone-mimicking level of mechanical properties, which is an essential demand of the targeted application. In this study, the nano-hydroxyapatite/polylactide composites were used as the matrix and continuous phosphate glass fibres (PGF) served as the major reinforcement to obtain the nano-HA/PGF/PLA hybrid composites. While the PGF volume fraction remained constant (25%), the nano-HA content (in weight) varied from 0% to 20%. As nano-HA loading increased, the flexural modulus of the composites increased from 8.70 ± 0.35 GPa to 14.97 ± 1.30 GPa, and the flexural strengths were enhanced from 236.31 ± 10.83 MPa to 310.55 ± 22.88 MPa. However, it is found that the degradation rates are higher with more nano-HA loaded. Enhanced water absorption ability, as well as increased voids in the composites is possible reasons for the accelerated degradation of composites with higher nano-HA loading. The hybrid composites possess mechanical properties that are superior to most of the HA/PLA composites in previous research while maintaining the biodegradability. With a proper loading of nano-HA in composites of 10 weight percent, the composites are also found with improved mechanical properties without catastrophic degradation. The composites developed in this study have great potential as biodegradable bone fixation device with enhanced load-bearing ability as confirmed and superior bioactivity as anticipated.展开更多
Feasibility of dissolution and utilization of expanded polystyrene in cycloalkane solutions was investigated in this work. The dissolution process of expanded polystyrene in several cycloalkane solutions decalin, cycl...Feasibility of dissolution and utilization of expanded polystyrene in cycloalkane solutions was investigated in this work. The dissolution process of expanded polystyrene in several cycloalkane solutions decalin, cyclohexane and methyl cyclohexane was studied. The effect of dissolution temperature, mechanical agitation, ultrasonic wave and stirring rate was studied under optimized conditions. Mass transfer coefficients were fitted. The results showed that the dissolution rate of expanded polystyrene in different cycloalkane solutions was ranked as decalin > methyl cyclohexane > cyclohexane;higher dissolution temperature and faster stirring rate could speed up the dissolution of expanded polystyrene;the effect of mechanical agitation was superior to ultrasonic condition;the solubility of top face was better than side face and under face.展开更多
Currently, phosphate based glasses have been potential future biomaterial for medical application due to excellent cytocompatibility and fully bioresorbability. In this study, phosphate based glass system with composi...Currently, phosphate based glasses have been potential future biomaterial for medical application due to excellent cytocompatibility and fully bioresorbability. In this study, phosphate based glass system with composition of 48P2O5-12B2O3-(25-X)MgO-14CaO-1Na2O-(X)Fe2O3 (X = 6, 8, 10) and 45P2O5-(Y)B2O3-(32-Y)MgO-14CaO-1Na2O-8Fe2O3 (Y = 12, 15, 20), was prepared via a melting quenching process. The effect of replacing MgO with Fe2O3 and B2O3 on the structural, thermal, degradation properties of phosphate based glass was investigated. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy analysis confirmed the polymerisation of phosphate based glass network with addition of Fe2O3, thus the processing window was observed to increase whilst the dissolution rate was reduced, attributed to the formation of Fe-O-P cross-link. As the effect on the glass structure stability was demonstrated by both B2O3 and MgO, the nonlinear variation of thermal stability and degradation behaviour was observed for glass system with substitution of MgO by B2O3. However, due to the lower dissolution rate of glass system when compared to the biocompatible phosphate based glass in preliminary study, the expected cytocompatibility could be confirmed in the downstream activities.展开更多
Ten of thousands of aircraft are expected to retire in the next 20 years.Aircraft manufacturers are gearing up for a new wave of recycling challenges as these aircrafts contain significant higher amount of carbon fibr...Ten of thousands of aircraft are expected to retire in the next 20 years.Aircraft manufacturers are gearing up for a new wave of recycling challenges as these aircrafts contain significant higher amount of carbon fibre reinforced polymer composite,which cannot be recycled by the conventional processes designed for metallic alloys.Aircraft manufacturers have been working with the recycling industry to limit unsustainable dismantling that is harmful to the environment and the potential liability risk of re-entry of un-certified salvaged parts back to the aviation market.An organised recycling network and procedures have already been set up for the conventional metallic alloys and will soon be required to include the composite waste.This paper reports the existing aircraft recycling practice and reviews the key recycling technologies for thermoset composites.Energy consumptions of these technologies are sought from the literature and are reported in this paper.Progress in development of reuse options for the recycled fibre is also included with discussion of their advantages and drawbacks.The challenge of working with the fluffy fibre is considered and the benefit of fibre alignment is highlighted for encouraging a widespread use of the fibre.展开更多
文摘Hydroxyapatite/polylactide (HA/PLA) composites have been intensively investigated for their potential as biodegradable fixation devices to heal bone fractures. However, most of these composites failed to achieve a bone-mimicking level of mechanical properties, which is an essential demand of the targeted application. In this study, the nano-hydroxyapatite/polylactide composites were used as the matrix and continuous phosphate glass fibres (PGF) served as the major reinforcement to obtain the nano-HA/PGF/PLA hybrid composites. While the PGF volume fraction remained constant (25%), the nano-HA content (in weight) varied from 0% to 20%. As nano-HA loading increased, the flexural modulus of the composites increased from 8.70 ± 0.35 GPa to 14.97 ± 1.30 GPa, and the flexural strengths were enhanced from 236.31 ± 10.83 MPa to 310.55 ± 22.88 MPa. However, it is found that the degradation rates are higher with more nano-HA loaded. Enhanced water absorption ability, as well as increased voids in the composites is possible reasons for the accelerated degradation of composites with higher nano-HA loading. The hybrid composites possess mechanical properties that are superior to most of the HA/PLA composites in previous research while maintaining the biodegradability. With a proper loading of nano-HA in composites of 10 weight percent, the composites are also found with improved mechanical properties without catastrophic degradation. The composites developed in this study have great potential as biodegradable bone fixation device with enhanced load-bearing ability as confirmed and superior bioactivity as anticipated.
文摘Feasibility of dissolution and utilization of expanded polystyrene in cycloalkane solutions was investigated in this work. The dissolution process of expanded polystyrene in several cycloalkane solutions decalin, cyclohexane and methyl cyclohexane was studied. The effect of dissolution temperature, mechanical agitation, ultrasonic wave and stirring rate was studied under optimized conditions. Mass transfer coefficients were fitted. The results showed that the dissolution rate of expanded polystyrene in different cycloalkane solutions was ranked as decalin > methyl cyclohexane > cyclohexane;higher dissolution temperature and faster stirring rate could speed up the dissolution of expanded polystyrene;the effect of mechanical agitation was superior to ultrasonic condition;the solubility of top face was better than side face and under face.
文摘Currently, phosphate based glasses have been potential future biomaterial for medical application due to excellent cytocompatibility and fully bioresorbability. In this study, phosphate based glass system with composition of 48P2O5-12B2O3-(25-X)MgO-14CaO-1Na2O-(X)Fe2O3 (X = 6, 8, 10) and 45P2O5-(Y)B2O3-(32-Y)MgO-14CaO-1Na2O-8Fe2O3 (Y = 12, 15, 20), was prepared via a melting quenching process. The effect of replacing MgO with Fe2O3 and B2O3 on the structural, thermal, degradation properties of phosphate based glass was investigated. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy analysis confirmed the polymerisation of phosphate based glass network with addition of Fe2O3, thus the processing window was observed to increase whilst the dissolution rate was reduced, attributed to the formation of Fe-O-P cross-link. As the effect on the glass structure stability was demonstrated by both B2O3 and MgO, the nonlinear variation of thermal stability and degradation behaviour was observed for glass system with substitution of MgO by B2O3. However, due to the lower dissolution rate of glass system when compared to the biocompatible phosphate based glass in preliminary study, the expected cytocompatibility could be confirmed in the downstream activities.
文摘Ten of thousands of aircraft are expected to retire in the next 20 years.Aircraft manufacturers are gearing up for a new wave of recycling challenges as these aircrafts contain significant higher amount of carbon fibre reinforced polymer composite,which cannot be recycled by the conventional processes designed for metallic alloys.Aircraft manufacturers have been working with the recycling industry to limit unsustainable dismantling that is harmful to the environment and the potential liability risk of re-entry of un-certified salvaged parts back to the aviation market.An organised recycling network and procedures have already been set up for the conventional metallic alloys and will soon be required to include the composite waste.This paper reports the existing aircraft recycling practice and reviews the key recycling technologies for thermoset composites.Energy consumptions of these technologies are sought from the literature and are reported in this paper.Progress in development of reuse options for the recycled fibre is also included with discussion of their advantages and drawbacks.The challenge of working with the fluffy fibre is considered and the benefit of fibre alignment is highlighted for encouraging a widespread use of the fibre.
