Processing and properties of magnesium containing a dense uniform dispersion of nanoparticles.

Magnesium is a light metal, with a density two-thirds that of aluminium, is abundant on Earth and is biocompatible; it thus has the potential to improve energy efficiency and system performance in aerospace, automobile, defence, mobile electronics and biomedical applications. However, conventional synthesis and processing methods (alloying and thermomechanical processing) have reached certain limits in further improving the properties of magnesium and other metals. Ceramic particles have been introduced into metal matrices to improve the strength of the metals, but unfortunately, ceramic microparticles severely degrade the plasticity and machinability of metals, and nanoparticles, although they have the potential to improve strength while maintaining or even improving the plasticity of metals, are difficult to disperse uniformly in metal matrices. Here we show that a dense uniform dispersion of silicon carbide nanoparticles (14 per cent by volume) in magnesium can be achieved through a nanoparticle self-stabilization mechanism in molten metal. An enhancement of strength, stiffness, plasticity and high-temperature stability is simultaneously achieved, delivering a higher specific yield strength and higher specific modulus than almost all structural metals.

Rapid control of phase growth by nanoparticles.

Effective control of phase growth under harsh conditions (such as high temperature, highly conductive liquids or high growth rate), where surfactants are unstable or ineffective, is still a long-standing challenge. Here we show a general approach for rapid control of diffusional growth through nanoparticle self-assembly on the fast-growing phase during cooling. After phase nucleation, the nanoparticles spontaneously assemble, within a few milliseconds, as a thin coating on the growing phase to block/limit diffusion, resulting in a uniformly dispersed phase orders of magnitude smaller than samples without nanoparticles. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated in both inorganic (immiscible alloy and eutectic alloy) and organic materials. Our approach overcomes the microstructure refinement limit set by the fast phase growth during cooling and breaks the inherent limitations of surfactants for growth control. Considering the growing availability of numerous types and sizes of nanoparticles, the nanoparticle-enabled growth control will find broad applications.

Mechanical properties of 7-10mm bone grafts and small slurry grafts in impaction bone grafting.

We compared the mechanical properties of morselized cancellous bone grafts of two sizes: 7-10 mm bone and small slurry bone (about 2 mm). The in vitro test was designed to simulate the hammer and impactor system for impaction bone grafting used in hip arthroplasty clinical practice. The 7-10 mm bone grafts showed higher height, elastic modulus, and massive extrusion strength than those of the small slurry bone grafts. No difference was found in yield strength. The bone mineral density of the 7-10 mm grafts continued to increase during impaction and became higher than that of the small slurry bone grafts after 10 impactions. Our results demonstrated that the small slurry bone grafts exhibit worse mechanical properties as compared with the 7-10 mm bone grafts, which implies that the use of this material in reconstruction of a bone defect in the acetabulum should be limited.

[Development of open cycling air pressure control system used for glaucoma research].

OBJECTIVE: To develop and set up a new culture system, which can apply pressure to cultured cells with open cycling air. The effects of this new system on the pH value, HCO(3)(-) concentration, O(2) pressure (pO(2)), CO2 pressure (pCO(2)) and the proliferation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were tested to evaluate its efficiency in the study of glaucoma. METHODS: In the open cycling air pressure control culture system, the pressure inside the culture flasks was controlled by increase or decrease of the perfuse airflow. The influence of different culture systems (normal pressure culture system, open cycling air pressure control system and occlusive pressure control system) on the pH value, HCO(3)(-) concentration, pO(2), pCO(2) and proliferation of RPE were tested. The data were analyzed with SPSS software. RESULTS: The open cycling air pressure control culture system worked effectively, the pressure inside the culture flask can be controlled from 0 to 100 mm Hg. The difference of pH value, HCO(3)(-) concentration, pO(2), and pCO(2) of culture medium and the proliferation of RPE between normal pressure culture system and open cycling air pressure control system were not significant (P = 0.927, 0.887, 0.818, 0.770, 0.719, respectively). There was significant difference in these data between normal pressure culture system and occlusive pressure control system (P = 0.001, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A new designed standard culture system applying pressure to cells with open cycling air was effective at pressure controlling and pH value, HCO(3)(-) concentration, pO(2) and pCO(2) controlling. This system may act as an ideal model in the experimental study of glaucoma.