Rheological, Mechanical and Morphological Characterization of Fillers in the Nautical Field: The Role of Dispersing Agents on Composite Materials.

Coatings have a fundamental role in covering the external surface of yachts by acting both as protective and aesthetic layers. In particular, fillers represent the essential layer from the point of view of mechanical properties and consist of a polymeric matrix, different extenders and additives, and dispersing agents, with the latter having the role to provide good extender-matrix compatibility. In the present work, the effects of dispersing agents with an ionic or steric action on the interactions between hollow glass microspheres and an epoxy-polyamide resin are evaluated. Un-crosslinked filler materials are studied via rheological tests, whereas the mechanical and morphological properties of the crosslinked samples are assessed. The results clearly indicate that steric dispersing agents provide a much greater compatibility effect compared to ionic ones, owing to their steric hindrance capability, thus leading to better-performing filler materials with a less-marked Payne effect, which is here proved to be an efficient tool to provide information concerning the extent of component interactions in nautical fillers. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first attempt to deeply understand the role of dispersing agents, which are until now empirically used in the preparation of fillers.

Studies of early growth mechanisms of hydroxyapatite on single crystalline rutile: a model system for bioactive surfaces.

Previous studies have shown that crystalline titanium oxide is in vitro bioactive and that there are differences in the HA formation mechanism depending on the crystalline direction of the titanium oxide surface. In the present study, the early adsorption of calcium and phosphate ions on three different surface directions of the single-crystal rutile TiO(2) substrate has been investigated. A crucial step in the nucleation of HA is believed to be the adsorption of Ca(2+) and PO(4)(3-) from phosphate buffer solutions. The (001), (100) and (110) single crystalline rutile surfaces were soaked in phosphate buffer saline solution for 10 min, 1 h and 24 h at 37°C. The surfaces were then analyzed using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that the adsorption of Ca(2+) and PO(4)(3-) is faster on the (001) and (100) surfaces than on the (110) surface. This study also shows that TOF-SIMS can be used as a tool to better understand the adsorption of calcium and phosphate ions and the growth mechanism of HA. This knowledge could be used to tailor new bioactive surfaces for better biological reaction.

Biomineralized strontium-substituted apatite/titanium dioxide coating on titanium surfaces.

Bone mineral is a multi-substituted calcium phosphate. One of these ion substitutions, strontium, has been proven to increase bone strength and decrease bone resorption. Biomimetics is a potential way to prepare surfaces that provide a favorable bone tissue response, thus enhancing the fixation between bone and implants. Here we prepared double-layered strontium-substituted apatite and titanium dioxide coatings on titanium substrates via mimicking bone mineralization. Morphology, crystallinity, surface chemistry and composition of Sr-substituted coatings formed via biomimetic coating deposition on crystalline titanium oxide substrates were studied as functions of soaking temperature and time in phosphate buffer solutions with different Sr ion concentration. The morphology of the biomimetic apatite changed from plate-like for the pure HA to sphere-like for the Sr ion substituted. Surface analysis results showed that 10-33% of Ca ions in the apatite have been substituted by Sr ions, and that the Sr ions were chemically bonded with apatite and successfully incorporated into the structure of apatite.