Advanced Materials Research Research Articles

2017 2nd International Conference on Advanced Materials Research and Manufacturing Technologies (AMRMT 2017)

PrefaceAMRMT 2017 was held in Phuket, Thailand during August 2-5, 2017. AMRMT 2017 was organized by Hong Kong Society of Mechanical Engineers (HKSME), supported by Swinburne University of Technology and other organizations. The conference provides a useful and wide platform both for display the latest research and for exchange of research results and thoughts in broad Advanced Materials Research and Manufacturing Technologies. The participants of the conference were from almost every part of the world, with background of either academia or industry, even well-known enterprise. The success and prosperity of the conference is reflected high level of the papers received.The proceedings are a compilation of the accepted papers and represent an interesting outcome of the conference. This book covers 4 chapters: Metals and processing Technology; Nanomaterials; Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Proeprties, Wearing and Tribology.We would like to acknowledge all of those who supported AMRMT 2017. Each individual and institutional help were very important for the success of this conference. Especially we would like to thank the organizing committee for their valuable advices in the organization and helpful peer review of the papers.We sincerely hope that AMRMT 2017 will be a forum for excellent discussions that will put forward new ideas and promote collaborative researches. We are sure that the proceedings will serve as an important research source of references and the knowledge, which will lead to not only scientific and engineering progress but also other new products and processes.Prof. Alan Kin Tak Lau, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia

Nanostructures to Engineer 3D Neural‐Interfaces: Directing Axonal Navigation toward Successful Bridging of Spinal Segments

AbstractNeural interfaces are the core of prosthetic devices, such as implantable stimulating electrodes or brain–machine interfaces, and are increasingly designed for assisting rehabilitation and for promoting neural plasticity. Thus, beyond the classical neuroprosthetic concept of stimulating and/or recording devices, modern technology is pursuing toward ideal bio/electrode interfaces with improved adaptability to the brain tissue. Advances in material research are crucial in these efforts and new developments are drawing from engineering and neural interface technologies. Here, a microporous, self‐standing, 3D interface made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) implemented at the interfacing surfaces with novel conductive nanotopographies (carbon nanotubes) is exploited. The scaffold porosity is characterized by 3D X‐ray microtomography. These structures are used to interface axons regenerated from cultured spinal explants and it is shown that engineering PDMS 3D interfaces with carbon nanotubes effectively changes the efficacy of regenerating fibers to target and reconnect segregated explant pairs. An improved electrophysiological performance is shown when the spinal tissue is interfaced to PDMS enriched by carbon nanotubes that may favor the use of our substrates as regenerative interfaces. The materials are implanted in the rat brain and a limited tissue reaction surrounding the implants at 2, 4, and 8 weeks from surgery is reported.

(Invited) The Center for Hierarchical Materials Design: Realizing the Promise of the Materials Genome Initiative

The classical materials creation process involves a laborious procedure wherein intuition drives the design of a material that is then created, and tested. In most cases, the design goals are not attained, and this costly procedure is repeated. The Materials Genome Initiative (MGI) seeks to replace this process and thus bring innovative new materials into commercial applications faster and at a lesser expense. The Center for Hierarchical Materials Design (CHiMaD) is the NIST-sponsored Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research focusing on developing the next generation of computational tools, databases, and experimental techniques in order to enable the accelerated design of novel materials and their integration into industry. To illustrate the potential of the MGI, we are designing a wide range of materials from Co-superalloys to block co-polymers for nanolithography. Each of these design efforts requires databases and simulation. A discussion of the databases, data mining and materials simulation efforts will be given.

3rd International Conference on Advanced Materials Research and Applications (AMRA 2016)

The 3rd International Conference on Advanced Materials Research and Applications (AMRA 2016) was successfully held from December 18-21, 2016 in Guangzhou, China. The Conference addressed recent advancements in Materials Science & Engineering and the relevant applications. The Technical Program consisted of 2 international keynote speakers, 25 oral presentations, and a poster session with 13 posters.This volume of IOP Conference Series: Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) is a compilation of the accepted papers in AMRA2016 and represents important results that were presented in the Conference. The electronic submission and handling of the manuscripts via the Conference Website, including the selection of reviewers and evaluation of manuscripts, were identical to the procedures applied to manuscripts submitted as regular contributions for publication in peer reviewed journals.The organization of this conference and the preparation of proceedings volume would have been impossible without the tremendous efforts and dedication of many individuals. Prof. Nuggehalli M. Ravindra oversaw the organization of the Conference. We would like to acknowledge a large team of reviewers for their timely submission of quality reports. Without this support, the Conference could not have been successful. We sincerely hope that AMRA2016 will serve as an ideal forum for academia, industrial practitioners and government agents.Prof. N.M. RAVINDRA (RAVI)General Chairman of AMRA 2016

Sir Paul Terence Callaghan FRS PCNZM. 19 August 1947 — 24 March 2012

Paul Callaghan will be remembered internationally for many seminal contributions to the foundations of magnetic resonance imaging as applied to the rheological analysis of a series of real world materials – paints, gels, polymer solutions – and at home in New Zealand as the leading physical scientist of his day, who became a familiar science communicator through popular books, a radio programme and the promotion of high technology as a part of the New Zealand economy. Apart from his time as a research student in Oxford (1970–75) and short stays abroad, Paul undertook all his research in New Zealand, and was a passionate and effective advocate for New Zealand science. His direct and continuing legacy for condensed matter science in New Zealand was his leadership in the foundation in 2002 of the multi-university MacDiarmid Institute devoted to research in advanced materials and nanotechnology, which he led through its first five years and into its second phase. In later life he was the founder of Magritek, a company manufacturing the specialist magnets needed for resonance imaging and spectroscopy.

Foreword: Special Section on 3-D Integration

This IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology Special Section on 3-D Integration addresses some key topics in the area of advanced system-level interconnection technologies with a focus on 3-D IC stacking based on through-silicon vias, 2.5-D integration using the silicon interposer technology, and photonic interconnections. These emerging interconnection technologies are driven by the need for improved communication bandwidth density and energy efficiency. It is well known that today, interconnects, both ON-chip and OFF-chip, have a major impact on the performance and energy efficiency of electronic systems. This realization has led to significant research and development in advanced materials, designs, architectures, integration approaches, and exploration of nontraditional communication approaches. Given the breadth and depth of this area, this Special Issue in no way covers all important topics. Rather, our intention is to provide a concise summary of the state-of-the-art in a few important areas and leave other topics for future issues.

Design and Implementation of DSP Based Cross-Platform Material Scratch Test Control System

Scratch test is mainly used for quantitative measurement of mechanical properties of coating materials in the field of modern materials testing. Advanced materials research have higher accuracy and stability requirements for scratch device but the control system the device mainly use can’t achieve dynamic and fast scratch because of the slow feedback. This paper designed a cross-platform material scratch test control system based on DSP data transmission and multi-axes control technique. System integrates good dynamic response sensors and advanced piezoelectric ceramic feed system, implements multi-axis synchronous control through the motion controller and running state monitoring through the DSP module .Adopting the standard PCI interface and cross-platform software development, the system has good portability.

Understanding the role of polymer surface nanoscale topography on inhibiting bacteria adhesion and growth

Event Abstract Back to Event Understanding the role of polymer surface nanoscale topography on inhibiting bacteria adhesion and growth Luting Liu1 and Thomas J. Webster1, 2 1 Northeastern University, Department of Chemical Engineering, United States 2 King Abdulaziz University, Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research, Saudi Arabia Introduction: Currently, the use of nanostructured materials, especially materials with nanofeatured topographies, which have more surface area, altered surface energy, enhanced select protein adsorption, selectively increased desirable cell functions while simultaneously decreasing competitive cell functions, seem to be among the most promising ways for reducing initial bacteria attachment, biofilm formation and infection[1]. Also, natural surfaces, such as cicada wing surfaces, appear to be bactericidal to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was thought to be due to the nanostructure surface of the wing rather than a chemical effect[2]. Motivated by these findings, this study aimed to modify the raw surface of a catheter composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to possess antibacterial nanostructures, and then to develop a mathematical model that can correlate nanosurface roughness with protein adsorption and bacteria adhesion. Materials and Methods: Here, we present a simple method to prepare a nano-patterned PDMS replica by using nanotubular anodized titanium as the template (Fig. 1)[3]. The surface morphogy and elemental composition of PDMS were characterized by SEM, AFM, and XPS. In vitro bacterial studies using Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) were conducted to assess the effectiveness of the nano-patterned PDMS (nano-PDMS) at inhibiting bacteria adhesion and growth. In addition, human fibroblast (ATCC, CCL-110) and endothelial cell (Life Technologies) MTT assays were conducted to determine the toxicity of the nanostructure to mammalian cells. To study the mechanism of these nanostructured features towards inhibiting bacteria adhesion and growth, the adsorption of proteins from tryptic soy broth that influence bacteria functions were determined. Results and Discussion: As expected, the nano-patterned structures were fabricated successfully on the surface of PDMS without changing its surface chemistry. In vitro studies indicated that nano-PDMS inhibited the adhesion and growth of both two bacteria after 48h compared with plain-PDMS. Moreover, data suggested the effectiveness of bacteria inhibition reached above 50%, all without employing antibiotics (Fig. 2). It was also found that nano-PDMS increased both fibroblast and endothelial cell adhesion after 4h of treatment. A bicinchoninic acid protein assay kit was used to quantify the amount of proteins adsorbed on the sample surfaces. Results indicated that the increase of nanoscale surface roughness caused a significant increase of the amount of adsorbed proteins with a maximum value occurred at 1h (Fig. 3). The increased protein adsorption on the nano-PDMS in the first several minutes could in part be responsible for the antibacterial properties. Conclusions: The relationship between the nanosurface roughness, protein adsorption and bacteria activities was investigated in this study. Data showed that the increased nanoscale surface roughness could increase the amount of proteins adsorbed, specifically, casein, inhibiting both bacteria adhesion and growth significantly while remaining non-toxic to mammalian cells. These results together indicated that the present biomimetic nano-patterned PDMS surface (without any chemical or antibiotic modification) should strongly be considered for reducing infections in catheters and other implanted biomaterials.

Nitrogen ion implantation into various materials using 28 GHz electron cyclotron resonance ion source.

The installation of the 28 GHz electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS) ion implantation beamline was recently completed at the Korea Basic Science Institute. The apparatus contains a beam monitoring system and a sample holder for the ion implantation process. The new implantation system can function as a multipurpose tool since it can implant a variety of ions, ranging hydrogen to uranium, into different materials with precise control and with implantation areas as large as 1-10 mm(2). The implantation chamber was designed to measure the beam properties with a diagnostic system as well as to perform ion implantation with an in situ system including a mass spectrometer. This advanced implantation system can be employed in novel applications, including the production of a variety of new materials such as metals, polymers, and ceramics and the irradiation testing and fabrication of structural and functional materials to be used in future nuclear fusion reactors. In this investigation, the first nitrogen ion implantation experiments were conducted using the new system. The 28 GHz ECRIS implanted low-energy, multi-charged nitrogen ions into copper, zinc, and cobalt substrates, and the ion implantation depth profiles were obtained. SRIM 2013 code was used to calculate the profiles under identical conditions, and the experimental and simulation results are presented and compared in this report. The depths and ranges of the ion distributions in the experimental and simulation results agree closely and demonstrate that the new system will enable the treatment of various substrates for advanced materials research.

Research Progress Of “Nanomaterials” In Ten Years

After starting to compile one of the growing subject areas of “Energy” under Advanced Materials research in the last issue, we have extracted the data in accordance to cover “Nanomaterials” for the current issue. Herein, we collected the data for last ten years and separated into 1) beginning of five years and 2) latter five years. The comparative research progress of “Nanomaterials” has been achieved at two time intervals through last ten years. In this respect, we discuss the variations in the document types and subject area meanwhile we also present the variation in the ranking of top-ten countries working in the field .

Advanced Materials Research: Preface

Advanced Materials Research: Preface

Modern Materials for Sports and Recreation

Abstract Beyond automotive, aerospace, and medical materials innovations, research and development of advanced materials and processes for sports and recreation activities is one of the most exciting areas for today’s materials scientists and engineers. This article compiles examples of materials innovations in equipment for cycling, ice skating, cricket, running, football, sailing, and fishing.

Kicking the Oil Addiction

Kicking the Oil Addiction

How does the entrepreneurial orientation of scientists affect their scientific performance? Evidence from the quadrant model

In order to identify the effect of academic entrepreneurship on science, this work compares the publication performance of entrepreneurial scientists with that of conventional scientists. Using Stokes's ‘quadrant model’, this paper examines how the entrepreneurial orientation affects scientific performance. The results on advanced materials research in Japan found that (i) entrepreneurial scientists publish more papers than conventional scientists do; (ii) the papers of conventional scientists demonstrate better citation performance than those of entrepreneurial scientists do, on average; (iii) coming to the top-cited papers, entrepreneurial scientists show higher propensity for publishing high-impact papers than conventional scientists do; and (iv) the portfolio interdisciplinarity of papers authored by entrepreneurial scientists is higher than that of conventional scientists. Although the influence of academic entrepreneurship on scientific performance is still unclear, our findings suggest that entrepreneurial scientists could make a relatively large contribution to furthering the scientific frontier by relying on innovation rather than convention.

Selective inhibition of MG-63 osteosarcoma cell proliferation induced by curcumin-loaded self-assembled arginine-rich-RGD nanospheres.

Osteosarcoma is the most frequent primary malignant form of bone cancer, comprising 30% of all bone cancer cases. The objective of this in vitro study was to develop a treatment against osteosarcoma with higher selectivity toward osteosarcoma cells and lower cytotoxicity toward normal healthy osteoblast cells. Curcumin (or diferuloylmethane) has been found to have antioxidant and anticancer effects by multiple cellular pathways. However, it has lower water solubility and a higher degradation rate in alkaline conditions. In this study, the amphiphilic peptide C18GR7RGDS was used as a curcumin carrier in aqueous solution. This peptide contains a hydrophobic aliphatic tail group leading to their self-assembly by hydrophobic interactions, as well as a hydrophilic head group composed of an arginine-rich and an arginine-glycine-aspartic acid structure. Through characterization by transmission electron microscopy, self-assembled structures of spherical amphiphilic nanoparticles (APNPs) with diameters of 10–20 nm in water and phosphate-buffered saline were observed, but this structure dissociated when the pH value was reduced to 4. Using a method of codissolution with acetic acid and dialysis tubing, the solubility of curcumin was enhanced and a homogeneous solution was formed in the presence of APNPs. Successful encapsulation of curcumin in APNPs was then confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffraction analyses. The cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of the APNP/curcumin complexes on both osteosarcoma and normal osteoblast cell lines were also evaluated by methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium assays and confocal fluorescence microscopy. The results showed that the curcumin-loaded APNPs had significant selective cytotoxicity against MG-63 osteosarcoma cells when compared with normal osteoblasts. We have demonstrated for the first time that APNPs can encapsulate hydrophobic curcumin in their hydrophobic cores, and curcumin-loaded APNPs could be an innovative treatment for the selective inhibition of osteosarcoma cells.

Hybrid Materials Engineering in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics

AbstractThe Guest Editors emphasize the rapidly growing research in advanced materials. “Telecommunication, health and environment, energy and transportation, and sustainability are just a few examples where new materials have been key for technological advancement.”

Molecular plasma deposition: biologically inspired nanohydroxyapatite coatings on anodized nanotubular titanium for improving osteoblast density.

In order to begin to prepare a novel orthopedic implant that mimics the natural bone environment, the objective of this in vitro study was to synthesize nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (NHA) and coat it on titanium (Ti) using molecular plasma deposition (MPD). NHA was synthesized through a wet chemical process followed by a hydrothermal treatment. NHA and micron sized hydroxyapatite (MHA) were prepared by processing NHA coatings at 500°C and 900°C, respectively. The coatings were characterized before and after sintering using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The results revealed that the post-MPD heat treatment of up to 500°C effectively restored the structural and topographical integrity of NHA. In order to determine the in vitro biological responses of the MPD-coated surfaces, the attachment and spreading of osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) on the uncoated, NHA-coated, and MHA-coated anodized Ti were investigated. Most importantly, the NHA-coated substrates supported a larger number of adherent cells than the MHA-coated and uncoated substrates. The morphology of these cells was assessed by scanning electron microscopy and the observed shapes were different for each substrate type. The present results are the first reports using MPD in the framework of hydroxyapatite coatings on Ti to enhance osteoblast responses and encourage further studies on MPD-based hydroxyapatite coatings on Ti for improved orthopedic applications.

Optical Performance of Colored Crystalline Solar Cells for Building Energy Efficient Application

The optical properties of building materials belong to the features that are currently taken into account more frequently. There are various reasons for dealing with those parameters. Some of them aim to achieve specific parameters and performance while the others are trying to employ innovative materials applying recent nanotechnologies, whose the aspects are currently implemented to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. Current advanced materials research, development and manufacturing initiate a strategy on basis of the application of tools for optimizing and improving the efficiency of all existing elements and technologies. In the building science for the field of renewable resources, the issues of solar energy have also become of a crucial importance. Progressive involvement in this field is focused, among others, on the research, development and innovations of solar cells, collectors and various photovoltaic elements with interdisciplinary attributes of investigation. The paper is focused on a spectral laboratory analysis of colored solar cells in terms of their optical efficiency and represents an exploratory study. Both laboratory methods of spectrophotometry and infrared spectroscopy were used in order to analyze the solar reflectance and thermal emissivity parameters. Methodology for determining solar reflectance index was also applied to study its optical performance. The results present a spectral analysis for all specific regions, as well as its integrated values. The resulting comparison demonstrates the optical efficiency of the selected colored solar cells. Finally, the blue mono-crystalline solar cell indicates seemly applicable properties in the analyzed indicators related especially to the thermal aspects of building performance.

Hydrogen-bonded supramolecular polyurethanes

As a class of materials, supramolecular polymers represent an exciting area of advanced materials research. The combination of unique properties, easy synthesis and response to the environment or external and temporal stimuli makes them important as a focus for the next generation of materials. Understanding and manipulating the non-covalent interactions leading to polymer assembly allows control over properties by selecting specific building blocks with well-understood non-covalent chemistry from an established toolkit. This allows assembly of defined and easily manipulated architectures, where physical characteristics similar to conventional high-molecular-weight polymers can be realized. Herein, we describe recent studies of the self-assembly of polyurethane-based supramolecular materials. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry

Electrical Characterization of Al/Ta2O5/Al Structures Grown by Electron Beam Deposition

Electrical Characterization of Al/Ta2O5/Al Structures Grown by Electron Beam Deposition I.S. Yahiaa,b,∗ and A.A.M. Farag Department of Physics, Center of Excellent for Advanced Materials Research, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, Saudi Arabia Nano-Science&Semiconductor Labs., Physics Department, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University Roxy, Cairo, Egypt Thin Film Laboratory, Department of Physics, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University, Roxy, Cairo, Egypt