Excellent Mechanical Properties Research Articles

Preparation and properties of ZTA/alloyed high manganese steel composites

In the long-term use of high manganese steels, it is not desirable to achieve wear resistance by austenite deformation strengthening alone. The wear resistance of high manganese steel is much lower than that of ordinary wear-resistant steel under medium and low stress conditions. Improving the instability of wear resistance caused by defects in high manganese steels is an important problem to be solved in current industrial production. In this study, a new type of high manganese alloy with high hardness and high wear resistance was prepared by multi-alloying with Cr-W-Mo elements on the basis of 20Mn1.2C. ZTA ceramic particles reinforced high manganese steel composites were prepared by selecting high manganese steel materials with excellent mechanical properties as the metal matrix of ceramic reinforced metal matrix composites. The Cr-W-Mo multi-alloyed high manganese alloys are mainly composed of a mixed austenite and ferrite matrix, M3C-type cementite and M6C-type carbides. The Cr2W6Mo6 sample has the best overall mechanical properties. Its hardness reached 49.8 HRC, which is 1.20 times higher than that of the Cr2 sample. The mass loss was 0.2571 g, which is 79.92% of the Cr16 sample (0.3217 g). The ZTA ceramic particles were well composited with the alloyed high manganese steel matrix, and the thickness of the interfacial layer was 20-30 μm, with the formation of Mn2AlO4 and (Fe, Mn)2SiO4, and (Al, Cr)2O3 in the interfacial layer. The best abrasion resistance was obtained at a ZTA content of 40 vol.%. The mass loss was 0.1669 g, which is 51.88% of the Cr16 material (0.3217 g).

Design and numerical investigation of the 3D reinforced re-entrant auxetic and hexagonal lattice structures for energy absorption properties

Lattice Structures (LS) are widely recognized for their light weight and excellent mechanical properties. In this study, strut reinforcement technique is applied to enhance the energy absorption properties of 3D re-entrant auxetic (Aux) and hexagonal (Hex) LS. Numerical investigation using finite element analysis (FEA) was carried out to understand the mechanical and energy absorption properties of the novel designs through quasi-static compression test. The uniaxial loading results of the reinforced designs were compared to the traditional 3D hexagonal and re-entrant auxetic LS. In order to numerically simulate the mechanical behaviour of 3D printed LS, mechanical properties of experimentally studied PA2200 matrix material (manufactured via additive manufacturing) was used. Study of the mechanical behaviour of the 3D printed LS parts is essential because additive manufacturing has the capacity to fabricate the complex LS compared to conventional manufacturing processes, and innovative LS design can provide high specific strength of parts. The stress–strain and energy absorption curve results indicate that the purposed new designs are excellent choice for energy absorption properties at large strain. The findings of this study contribute towards the novel design of 3D hexagonal and re-entrant auxetic LS for superior mechanical strength and specific energy absorption properties.

Construction and biocompatibility evaluation of CS-FA/VA composite coating on the surface of ZE21B vascular stent

Magnesium alloys have become the focus of attention as a new generation of vascular stent materials due to their excellent mechanical properties and degradability. However, their rapid degradation rate and poor surface endothelialization performance have become key factors limiting their clinical application. In this study, the Mg-Zn-Y-Nd (ZE21B) surface was modified with the magnesium fluoride (MgF2) corrosion-resistant layer, and the polydopamine (PDA) layer was used to immobilize the chitosan (CS)-ferulic acid (FA)/vanillic acid (VA) bioactive composite coating. The results of the electrochemical and hydrogen evolution experiments showed that the corrosion current density and hydrogen release of the modified ZE21B alloy significantly decreased, and its corrosion resistance was enhanced; the results of the hemolysis rate and whole blood experiments showed that the adhesion of blood components such as white blood cells and platelets on the surface of the modified ZE21B alloy significantly decreased, improving the blood compatibility of the magnesium alloy; the results of in vitro cell experiments showed that the modified ZE21B alloy effectively promoted endothelial cell (ECs) adhesion and proliferation, and inhibited smooth muscle cell (SMCs) pathological proliferation. These enhancements suggest that the CS-FA/VA coating significantly improves both the corrosion resistance and biological compatibility of the ZE21B alloy.

Folic acid modified silver nanoparticles promote endothelialization and inhibit calcification of decellularized heart valves by immunomodulation with anti-bacteria property

Xenogeneic decellularized heart valves (DHVs) have become one of the most commonly used scaffolds for tissue engineered heart valves (TEHVs) due to extensive resources and possessing the distinct three-layer structure similar to native heart valves. However, DHVs as scaffolds face the shortages such as poor mechanical properties, proneness to thrombosis and calcification, difficulty in endothelialization and chronic inflammatory responses etc., which limit their applications in clinic. In this work, we constructed a novel TEHV with immunomodulatory functions by loading folic acid modified silver nanoparticles (FS NPs) on DHVs to overcome these issues. The FS NPs preferentially targeted M1 macrophages and reduced their intracellular H2O2 level, resulting in polarizing them into M2 phenotype. The increased M2 macrophages facilitated to eliminate inflammation, recruit endothelial cells, and promote their proliferation and endothelialization by secreting relative factors. We founded that FS NPs with the size of 80 nm modified DHVs (FSD-80) performed optimally on cytocompatibility and regulating macrophage phenotype ability in vitro. In addition, the FSD-80 had excellent mechanical properties, hemocompatibility and anti-bacteria property. The results of the subcutaneous implantation in rats revealed that the FSD-80 also had good performance in regulating macrophage phenotype, promoting endothelialization, remolding the extracellular matrix and anti-calcification in vivo. Therefore, FS NPs-loaded DHVs possess immunomodulatory functions, which is a feasible and promising strategy for constructing TEHVs with excellent comprehensive performance.

Nanotechnology enabled casting of aluminum alloy 7075 turbines

Aluminum alloy 7075 is well-known for its high-performance structural systems due to its lightweight and excellent mechanical properties. However, its susceptibility to hot cracking and limited fluidity hinder its casting suitability, posing challenges in manufacturing near-net-shaped structures economically, especially for thin and intricate aerospace components. This paper presents experimental results based on nano-treating, an emerging nanotechnology-enabled manufacturing method by incorporating a low fraction of nanoparticles in liquid aluminum, to allow the casting of complex aluminum alloy 7075 parts. Vacuum fluidity tests demonstrated that nano-treating of aluminum alloy 7075 with only 0.5 vol% TiC nanoparticles increased the fluidity of aluminum alloy 7075 by more than 20%, effectively eliminating hot cracking and enhancing surface quality. Through the Rapid Investment Casting process, nano-treated aluminum alloy 7075 can be successfully cast into turbines with 0.5 mm thick blades. In contrast, aluminum alloy 7075 without nano-treating failed to produce good casting quality due to poor filling and severe cracks. The manufacturing trials highlight the significant improvement in castability achieved through nano-treating, opening a novel pathway for the cost-effective production of complex aluminum alloy 7075 structures for numerous applications.

Mechanical and tribological properties of high entropy carbide-based micro-nano ceramic composites

(NbTaTiWZr)C-based micro-nano composites were fabricated by spark plasma sintering employing multi-layer graphene (MLG), Ni, and Al2O3 as reinforcements. It is demonstrated that excellent mechanical properties were achieved for MLG, Ni, and Al2O3 hybrid addition with a hardness of 21.73 GPa, a flexural strength of 572.4 MPa, and a fracture toughness of 7.65 MPa m1/2. Enhanced densification together with inhibited grain growth contributed to the simultaneously improved hardness and flexural strength. The major toughening mechanisms were determined as microcracks, crack deflection, crack bridging, crack stopping, MLG wall, MLG pull-out, MLG bending, and MLG wrapping grains. Furthermore, outstanding tribological performance occurred to the (High entropy ceramic) HEC-Ni-Al2O3-MLG with a friction coefficient of 0.23 and wear rate of 4.32 × 10−7mm3N−1m−1, as a function of graphene acting as a lubricating friction layer and the enhanced mechanical responses.

Influence of different composite curing agents on the rapid curing characteristics and mechanical performance of epoxy resins

To address the need for rapid in situ plugging and repair of hydraulic machinery and chemical pipelines and to resolve the issue that a single curing agent cannot simultaneously achieve rapid curing and excellent mechanical properties in epoxy resin systems, this study explores the use of composite curing agents. In particular, effective formulations are designed for mixing fast and slow curing agents, studying their effects on the curing behavior, curing quality, and mechanical properties of epoxy resins and elucidating their influence mechanisms. The results indicate that three resin systems meet the requirements for rapid curing (curing time within 30 min): 4A6B/EP, 2A8B/EP, and 0A10B/EP. Among them, 4A6B/EP exhibits the best curing quality and mechanical properties. In particular, 4A6B/EP demonstrates the lowest values of curing shrinkage rate, internal curing stress, average pore size, porosity, and cumulative pore volume. Its low internal stress and low defects reduce the stress concentration, while more efficient deflection and branching of internal cracks enhance its deformation resistance. Consequently, 4A6B/EP shows the highest microhardness, fracture toughness, tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and elongation after fracture. Based on the comprehensive evaluation of rapid curing characteristics and mechanical properties, the 4A6B/EP system offers the best overall performance. Therefore, it is recommended as the preferred resin system for rapid plugging and repair of composite materials, providing a theoretical basis and technical support for boosting the application of epoxy resin composite materials in high-tech fields.

Facilely prepared extreme environments tolerable PIF /c-CNTx composites for piezoresistive sensor based on powder foaming strategy

Polyimide foams (PIF) are widely used in piezoresistive sensors due to their light weight and weather resistance to weathering at extreme temperatures. Nevertheless, the mechanical strength of PIF prepared by freeze-drying method is poor, with only tens to hundreds of kPa ranging from 50 % to 80 % compression. Herein, a polyimide composite reinforced with –COOH functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PIF/c-CNTx) was produced via a thermal foaming process using a powder-based method. The PIF/c-CNTx composites exhibit ultra-low density (0.165 g/cm3), excellent mechanical properties (compressive strength of up to 2.5 MPa at 60 % compressive strain, tens to hundreds of times higher than similar materials) as well as stable compressive properties and recoverability in liquid nitrogen and at high temperatures up to 200 ℃. The PIF/c-CNTx piezoresistive sensor achieves excellent sensing capability over a wide strain range high sensitivity (GF = 12.9) and exhibit good stability over 5000 s of cyclic compression at a compression rate of 10 mm/min. The stability and reproducibility of the strong piezoresistive signal at extreme temperatures shows the great potential of PIF/c-CNTx composites as structural components under extreme conditions for applications in aerospace and polar exploration.

A strain rate response and self-healing organohydrogel for use in impact-protective materials

Impact-protective materials are used in many fields owing to their excellent mechanical properties, impact resistance, and rapid responses to external stimuli. In this study, a new organohydrogel (PAIG) was designed and prepared through emulsion copolymerization by combining polymer chain segment as a skeleton and oil phase containing IHP as dynamic crosslinking points. The PAIG gel system provided a stable structure and overcame the cold flow property of impact-hardening polymers (IHP) with a tensile stress of 0.48 MPa. In addition, the introduced flexible IHP chains provided a large number of boron–oxygen dynamic bonds and hydrogen bonds, which improved both the impact resistance (the peak force reduction rate of 74 %), speed- response and the self-healing ability (with an efficiency of ca. 90 %). Impressively, PAIG can withstand cyclic twisting and bending even at −20 °C, showing its excellent freezing resistance. These properties make the PAIG promising for intelligent impact-protection applications.

Exfoliated MoS2 anchored on graphene oxide nanosheets for enhancing thermoelectric properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes-based thermoelectric materials with high electrical conductivity (σ) and excellent mechanical properties have promising applications in flexible wearable devices. Two-dimensional transition metal sulfide MoS2 has been used to enhance the thermoelectric properties of carbon nanotubes due to its high Seebeck coefficient (S). However, MoS2 nanosheets are prone to agglomeration due to their high specific surface area, which causes lower doping efficiency. In this work, MoS2@GO hybrids are successfully fabricated using a hydrothermal in-situ growth method to anchor exfoliated MoS2 on graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets, and MoS2@GO hybrids significantly enhance the interfacial interaction between MoS2 and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), improve the carrier mobility, lead to a simultaneous enhancement of the S and the σ. The maximum S value of MoS2@GO/SWCNT is 42.3 ± 0.2 μV K-1, the σ is 1173.2 ± 45.6 S cm-1, and an optimum power factor (PF) of 208.8 ± 8.5 μW m-1 K-2 is obtained at room temperature, which reaches 261.3 ± 10.2 μW m-1 K-2 at 385 K. For application demonstration, a thermoelectric device is assembled by connecting six pairs of p-type MoS2@GO/SWCNT and n-type copper sheets in series, which demonstrates an open-circuit voltage of 17.4 mV and an output power of 2.1 μW under a temperature difference of 50 K. Therefore, this study enriches the design and synthesis strategy of exfoliated MoS2 and provides a new approach for the development of high-performance SWCNT-based thermoelectric materials, which has important potential applications in the field of wearable electronics.

Corrigendum to “Additively manufactured porous Ti6Al4V Alloy with excellent mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility” [J. Alloy. Compd. 1009 (2024) 176982]

Corrigendum to “Additively manufactured porous Ti6Al4V Alloy with excellent mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility” [J. Alloy. Compd. 1009 (2024) 176982]

C/C-(Hf0.5Zr0.3Ti0.2)C-W-Cu composites: Long-term ablation resistance based on active-passive protection at 2600 °C

Compared with the traditional C/C composites modified by ultra-high-temperature ceramics (C/C-UHTCs), those modified by metal/medium-entropy ceramics have excellent mechanical properties, thermophysical properties, and long-term ablation resistance. These composites have great potential towards improving the high-temperature resistance and service life of thermal protection systems for spacecraft. In this study, a new type of (Hf0.5Zr0.3Ti0.2)C-W-Cu cermet-modified C/C composites (C/C-(Hf0.5Zr0.3Ti0.2)C-W-Cu) was prepared at 1500 °C. Compared with C/C-UHTCs, the bending strength and fracture toughness of C/C-(Hf0.5Zr0.3Ti0.2)C-W-Cu increased by 70% and 110% to 364.25 MPa and 14.64 MPa·m1/2, respectively. Due to the high thermal conductivity of Cu and W, the thermal conductivity of this new composite was 106% higher than that of C/C-(Hf0.5Zr0.3Ti0.2)C (44.26 versus 21.53 W/m·K). Under a high heat flow of 4.18 MW/m2, this material exhibited very low mass and linear ablation rates (−0.163 mg/s and −0.193 μm/s, respectively). Active and passive protection occur during ablation due to the evaporative cooling of Cu, CuO, and WO3 as well as a dense outer oxide layer that inhibits oxygen diffusion. The internal oxide layer forms a Hf-Zr-Ti-C-O framework mingled with Ti-rich Ti-Hf-Zr-C-O and an unoxidised W-Cu structure, effectively reducing the osmotic oxygen content. This work provides a new direction for developing thermal protection materials capable of long-term service in ultra-high-temperature environments.

A novel model for predicting deformation of thermoplastic composites during heat-pressing process

Carbon fiber/polyetheretherketone (CF/PEEK) thermoplastic composites are widely used in the aerospace industry due to their excellent mechanical properties and high-temperature resistance. However, the research on heat-pressing deformation and residual stress during high-temperature and high-pressure heat-pressing processes in CF/PEEK was relatively deficient. In this paper, a framework coupled with crystallization kinetics, micromechanics and thermodynamics was developed to predict the heat-pressing deformations of CF/PEEK and it was conducted by UMAT, DISP and UEXPAN subroutines. Moreover, the predictive model was verified by experiments effectively. Finally, we compared the difference in residual stress distributions between symmetric and asymmetric lay-ups and found that the melting temperature, thickness, angle and sequence of layers have a significant impact on the heat-pressing deformation. This work provided an effective tool for predicting heat-pressing deformations, which is great of significance in the manufacturing and application of CF/PEEK.

Tough and anisotropic Janus hydrogel for tendon injury repair with controlled release of bFGF in tendon microenvironment

To address the high complexity and challenging nature of large-scale tendon injury repair, an innovative Janus structured hydrogel patch (JAHP@bFGF) was designed in this study. The patch combines microenvironmental responsiveness with efficient repair function, aiming to optimise and accelerate the tendon healing process. The outer layer is a PVA/SA/Na3Cit hydrogel with excellent mechanical properties, protein resistance, and low friction, which provides firm support to the tendon and reduces adhesions to ensure the recovery of gliding function. The inner layer of TCSB@bFGF microgel responds intelligently to changes in the microenvironment, precisely regulates the release of bFGF, promotes cell proliferation and migration, accelerates tissue regeneration, and has high adhesion strength and antimicrobial properties, which significantly reduces the risk of postoperative infection. Experimental results show that JAHP@bFGF significantly optimises the healing process, accelerates the repair speed and improves the repair quality under simulated large-scale tendon injury conditions. The unique Janus surface design and the intelligent drug release function, in synergy, not only bring new hope to patients with large-scale tendon injuries, but also provide an important reference for the application of biomedical materials in the repair of complex tissues, which heralds the arrival of the era of more efficient and personalised tendon repair.

Investigating on the Tribological Behavior of Binderless WC Matrix Composite

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dry friction and wear behavior of WC-4.3wt.%MgO-2wt.%ZrO2 (WM2Z) composite. WM2Z composite prepared by high-energy ball milling and spark plasma sintering (SPS) technology exhibited excellent comprehensive mechanical properties and dense microstructure. Dry friction test results indicated that the increase of sliding speed will lead to the decrease of friction coefficient, while at the same sliding speed, the extension of sliding time has no significant effect on the friction coefficient. The wear volume increased proportionally with the sliding time, while the wear rate stabilized after reaching a certain duration. The wear mechanism was mainly slight abrasive wear. Additionally, some oxidation occurred on both the WM2Z composite and the Si3N4 ball during friction, forming an oxide film that contributed to the reduction of the friction coefficient. The novelty of this study lies in the first systematic investigation of the effects of sliding speed and time on the wear performance of WM2Z composite, and the revelation that in high-speed sliding environments, even with shorter sliding times, the material experiences faster wear. This discovery emphasizes the important role of sliding speed in the wear process and provides new insights into understanding the wear mechanism of materials in practical applications. This study not only enriches the friction and wear theory of binderless WC matrix composites, but also provides important experimental data and theoretical support for the design and application of related materials, laying a solid foundation for wear resistance optimization and industrial applications.

Giant magnetocaloric effect of Ni-Co-Mn-Ti all-d Heusler alloys in high magnetic fields

Ni-Co-Mn-Ti all-d Heusler alloys are attracting considerable attention for solid-state caloric-cooling applications due to their promising combination of excellent caloric and mechanical properties. Here, we report on the maximum attainable magnetocaloric effect in Ni37Co13Mn34.5Ti15.5, which shows a first-order magnetostructural martensitic transformation around room temperature. Heat capacity measurements reveal a giant transition entropy change of 43.5J(kgK)\\protect \\relax \\special {t4ht=−}1 and are utilized to estimate the magnetocaloric effect as well as the magnetic fields required to saturate it in isothermal and adiabatic conditions. Confirming the results based on this approach, we achieve maximum isothermal entropy changes and directly measured adiabatic temperature changes of 37.8J(kgK)\\protect \\relax \\special {t4ht=−}1 and -20.2K, respectively. Thus, the herein reported maximum attainable magnetocaloric effect outperforms classical Ni-Mn-based Heusler alloys, such as Ni(-Co)-Mn-In. Especially the saturated adiabatic temperature change surpasses all previously published values of magnetic field-induced first-order phase transitions measured around room temperature in pulsed magnetic fields in recent years. Thereby, we demonstrate that Ni(-Co)-Mn-Ti Heusler alloys are particularly suitable for the application of sufficiently large external stimuli to fully induce the phase transition and exploit their intrinsically large caloric effect.

Solvent-free Acrylate/BCB drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet dielectric ink for 3D printing

Currently, drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet-printed dielectric inks used to produce next-generation high-frequency electronic devices fail to meet the requirements of circuit board substrates in terms of thermal, mechanical, and dielectric properties. To address this gap, we synthesized a low-viscosity acrylate monomer featuring an intrinsically low dielectric structure (hexafluorobisphenol A) and multiple cross-linking sites, and a benzocyclobutene monomer with low curing shrinkage and excellent thermomechanical properties. By mixing these monomers with other reactive diluents and verifying them through theoretical calculations and printing, we have developed a range of dielectric inks suitable for inkjet 3D printing. To enhance the overall performance of the cured inks, a sequential UV/thermal curing strategy was employed to form interpenetrating networks (IPNs). The optimal ink formulations met the requirements of circuit board substrates, demonstrating excellent heat resistance (Td5% = 334 °C, Tg = 181 °C), mechanical properties (tensile strength = 85 MPa, elongation at break = 13.5 %), and dielectric properties (Dk = 2.526 and Df = 0.113 at 15 GHz). These formulations meet the performance requirements for circuit board substrates and lead the industry in mechanical and dielectric properties. Furthermore, the feasibility of inkjet printing heterogeneous integrated electronic devices was verified, showing excellent print resolution and continuity of the conductive network. This work provides new insights into the future development of dielectric materials for inkjet 3D printing.

Ag quantum dots-doped poly (vinyl alcohol)/chitosan hydrogel coatings to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections

The prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) significantly impacts the reduction of morbidity and mortality associated with the use of indwelling urinary catheters. This study focused on developing an antibacterial double network hydrogel coating for latex urinary catheters, which incorporated Ag quantum dots (Ag QDs) in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-chitosan (CS) double network hydrogel matrix. The PVA-CS-Ag QDs, referred to as the PCA hydrogel coating exhibited excellent mechanical and physiochemical properties with controlled release of Ag QDs. The antibacterial properties of the PCA hydrogel-coated urinary catheters were studied against both gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli, ATCC25922) and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, ATCC29213). The continuous release of CS oligomers and Ag QDs from the hydrogel coating contributed to the synergistic antibacterial and antiadhesion effects. Measurements of the Ag release rate revealed that even after 30 days, the concentration of Ag QDs from the PCA hydrogel-coated urinary catheters remained significantly higher than the effective antibacterial concentration of the total Ag (0.1 μg·L−1). These results indicated that the PCA hydrogel coating not only efficiently prevented bacteria attachment, but also exhibited long-term antibacterial activity, thereby inhibiting biofilm formation. Furthermore, the PCA hydrogel-coated urinary catheter demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. Overall, this novel PCA hydrogel-coated urinary catheter, with its exceptional antibacterial properties, holds great potential in reducing the incidence of CAUTIs.

Enhancing cryogenic mechanical properties of a cost-effective FeCrNi dual-phase multi-principal element alloy by fully constrained heterostructure and deformation twinning

This paper reports a cost-effective Fe40Cr40Ni20 (at%) dual-phase multi-principal element alloy with excellent cryogenic mechanical properties. The high strength primarily originated from an ideal fully constrained heterostructure, which enhanced back stress strengthening and dislocation strengthening. Twinning enhanced the deformability and the strength of the alloy simultaneously.

Enhancement of thermo-oxidative stability of polyimide composites by functionalized polyimide film surface modification

Polyimide (PI) resin-based composites exhibit excellent high-temperature resistance, solvent resistance, and mechanical properties, making them have broad application prospects in various fields such as aviation, aerospace, and transportation. With the continuous development of new devices, the requirements for the service temperature and service life of materials are improved, so there is an urgent need to improve the thermo-oxidative stability of polyimide composites. In this work, PI films, aluminum-coated PI film, and copper-coated PI film with low oxygen permeability were used as surface oxygen barrier materials, and surface film modified polyimide composites were prepared. The results show that, compared with the unmodified composite materials, after aging at 350°C for 400 hours, the weight loss rates of the composites modified by three kinds of surface films all increased by more than 50%, and the bending strength retention rates of the composites respectively increased by 47%, 51%, 45%, and the interlaminar shear strength retention rates respectively increased by 107%, 82%, 78%, showing excellent thermo-oxidative stability.