Surface Treatment of Zn-Mn-Mg Alloys by Micro-Arc Oxidation in Silicate-Based Solutions with Different NaF Concentrations.

Newly developed Zn-Mn-Mg alloys can be invoked as biomedical materials because of their excellent mechanical properties. However, the corrosion behavior of Zn-Mn-Mg alloys was still lacking in research. It had grown to be a hot research topic to improve the corrosion behavior of Zn alloys by surface treatment to meet the application of degradable Zn alloys in biomedical applications. Micro arc oxidation (MAO) is a simple and effective method to improve the corrosion behavior of the alloy. MAO coatings were successfully prepared on the surface of Zn-Mn-Mg alloys by MAO in silicate-based solutions with different NaF concentrations. The microstructure and phase composition of MAO coatings prepared on Zn-Mn-Mg alloys with different NaF concentrations in the electrolyte was examined by a scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that the MAO coatings are porous and mainly composed of ZnO. With the increasing NaF concentration in the electrolyte, the average thickness increases. The distribution of the micro/nanopores was uniform, and the pore size ranged from the submicron scale to several micrometers after MAO treatment in the electrolyte containing different concentrations of NaF. Potential dynamic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed to assess the corrosion behavior of MAO coatings in Hank's solution. The highest corrosion rate can be achieved after MAO treatment, with an electrolyte concentration of 1.5 g/L NaF in Hank's solution. These results indicated that MAO coating can accelerate the corrosion resistance of a Zn-Mn-Mg alloy.

Synthesis of silanol-functionalized latex nanoparticles through miniemulsion copolymerization of styrene and gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane.

The polystyrene latex nanoparticles bearing silanol groups on their surfaces were successfully synthesized via miniemulsion polymerization using gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) as the functional comonomer and oil-soluble AIBN as the initiator at neutral conditions. FTIR and 29Si NMR spectra showed that the condensation of silanol groups was suppressed effectively. zeta potential and XPS analyses demonstrated that the silanol groups were enriched at the surfaces of the latex particles and could be tailored by MPS concentration. These silanol-functionalized latex particles could be easily coated with silica or other inorganic or organic compounds to prepare novel hybrid particles and hollow microspheres.

Synthesis of SiO2/polystyrene nanocomposite particles via miniemulsion polymerization.

The SiO(2)/polystyrene nanocomposite particles were synthesized through miniemulsion polymerization by using sodium lauryl sulfate surfactant (SLS), hexadecane costabilizer in the presence of silica particles coated with methacryloxy(propyl)trimethoxysilane. Core-shell or other interesting morphology composite particles were obtained depending on the size of the silica particles and the surfactant concentration employed. By adjusting these parameters, it was possible to control the size and morphology of the composite particles.