Universal Mechanical Testing Research Articles

Durable superhydrophobic Zn/ZnO/TiO2 surfaces on Ti6Al4V substrate with self-cleaning property and switchable wettability

Durable superhydrophobic (SHP) Zn/ZnO/TiO2 surfaces with dendritic structures on Ti6Al4V substrate were obtained by chemical etching, electrodeposition and following annealing process. The resultant coatings electrodeposited at −1.5V for 10min and annealed at 190°C for 60min showed fine superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 160° and a rolling angle less than 1°, showing excellent rolling-off and self-cleaning properties. The morphology, chemical components and growth mechanism of samples were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Surface tribological properties were characterized by a universal mechanical tester (UMT). The as-prepared Zn/ZnO/TiO2 surface still kept excellent SHP stability after exposure to the air, buried in soil and cold storage at 5°C in the fridge for one year, as well as excellent repellence to some daily-used liquids such as coke, coffee, red wine, milk and tea. The surface can be reversibly switched between superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity by alternating UV illumination and dark storage or heating, which offer possibilities to widen future applications.

Influence of Tube Current Settings on Diagnostic Detection of Root Fractures Using Cone-beam Computed Tomography: An In Vitro Study

IntroductionThis study assessed the influence of tube current settings (milliamperes [mA]) on the diagnostic detection of root fractures (RFs) using cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) imaging. MethodSixty-eight human anterior and posterior teeth were submitted to root canal preparation, and 34 root canals were filled. The teeth were divided into 2 groups: the control group and the fractured group. RFs were induced using a universal mechanical testing machine; afterward, the teeth were placed in a phantom. Images were acquired using a Scanora 3DX unit (Soredex, Tuusula, Finland) with 5 different mA settings: 4.0, 5.0, 6.3, 8.0, and 10.0. Two examiners (E1 and E2) classified the images according to a 5-point confidence scale. Intra- and interexaminer reproducibility was assessed using the kappa statistic; diagnostic performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). ResultsIntra- and interexaminer reproducibility showed substantial (κE1 = 0.791 and κE2 = 0.695) and moderate (κE1 × E2 = 0.545) agreement, respectively. AUROC was significantly higher (P ≤ .0389) at 8.0 and 10.0 mA and showed no statistical difference between the 2 tube current settings. ConclusionsTube current has a significant influence on the diagnostic detection of RFs in CBCT images. Despite the acceptable diagnosis of RFs using 4.0 and 5.0 mA, those settings had lower discrimination abilities when compared with settings of 8.0 and 10.0 mA.

Synthesis of wrinkled mesoporous silica and its reinforcing effect for dental resin composites

ObjectiveThe aim of this work is to explore the reinforcing effect of wrinkled mesoporous silica (WMS), which should allow micromechanical resin matrix/filler interlocking in dental resin composites, and to investigate the effect of silica morphology, loading, and compositions on their mechanical properties. MethodsWMS (average diameter of 496nm) was prepared through the self-assembly method and characterized by the use of the electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and the N2 adsorption–desorption measurements. The mechanical properties of resin composites containing silanized WMS and nonporous smaller silica were evaluated with a universal mechanical testing machine. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy was used to study the fracture morphology of dental composites. Resin composites including silanized silica particles (average diameter of 507nm) served as the control group. ResultsHigher filler loading of silanized WMS substantially improved the mechanical properties of the neat resin matrix, over the composites loaded with regular silanized silica particles similar in size. The impregnation of smaller secondary silica particles with diameters of 90 and 190nm, denoted respectively as Si90 and Si190, increased the filler loading of the bimodal WMS filler (WMS-Si90 or WMS-Si190) to 60wt%, and the corresponding composites exhibited better mechanical properties than the control fillers made with regular silica particles. Among all composites, the optimal WMS-Si190- filled composite (mass ratio WMS:Si190=10:90, total filler loading 60wt%) exhibited the best mechanical performance including flexural strength, flexural modulus, compressive strength and Vickers microhardness. SignificanceThe incorporation of WMS and its mixed bimodal fillers with smaller silica particles led to the design and formulation of dental resin composites with superior mechanical properties.

Synthesis, surface properties, crystal structure and dye sensitized solar cell performance of TiO2 nanotube arrays anodized under different voltages

In this study, anodic TiO2 nanotube (TNT) arrays with average nanotube diameter from 26 nm to 115 nm and length from 1.3 μm to 6.4 μm were grown by electrochemical method. Anodization process were performed under different voltages from 10 to 50 V in ethylene glycol – ammonium fluoride – water electrolyte. Formation mechanism of TNTs was summarized. Surface morphology, crystal structure, roughness, wettability and elasticity of TNT arrays were characterized by using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM), optical tensiometer and universal mechanical tester, respectively. Water contact angle measurements and nanoindentation tests proved that water contact angle and elastic modulus of TNT arrays decrease with increasing anodization voltage. Photocurrent-photovoltage curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) were made to investigate the effects of anodization voltages on photoanode performance. The light conversion efficiency and photocurrent density of TNT photoanodes was increased with increasing anodization voltage due to larger nanotube length and surface area. The results show that anodization voltage is significant parameter for the surface properties and dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) performance TNT arrays.

Study of Granulated Gypsum Hardness Coming from the Granulation Process in Rotating Disk

The granulation process is a unit operation with broad application in the fertilizer industry. The granular fertilizer has a better physical appearance, facility of agricultural application and elimination of fugitive dust in the production and bagging units. Phosphogypsum is a residue from the production of phosphate fertilizers. It known that for every 1 t of phosphate fertilizer produced, about 4 t of phosphogypsum are obtained, causing problems in storage and risks to the environment. Such problems may be minimized by granulating the waste phosphogypsum and using it in agriculture. This work aims at the construction of a laboratory-scale rotating disk granulator with a pre-established combination of reagents to promote granulation of the waste from phosphate fertilizer production. For construction of the equipment a theoretical study was performed in order to establish the principal variables influencing the granulation technique and the dimensions required for building the granulator. The equipment attained the expected results and the disc speed (22 to 250 rpm) and disc inclination (0 to 90 degrees) can be manipulated. In this paper three binders used were: Manioc starch, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), each at three different concentrations. The tests were conducted using a rotating disk granulator and hardness tests on a universal mechanical testing machine. The figures of merit used in this study were percentage particle size, hardness and sphericity of the granules obtained. With the analysis of the data, it can be concluded that the granulation process was adequate, considering the settings employed.

Biomechanical and biocompatible enhancement of reinforced calcium phosphate cement via RGD peptide grafted chitosan nanofibers

<b>Objective:</b> To analysis the biomechanical and biocompatible properties of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) enhanced by chitosan short nanofibers(CSNF) and Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD). <b>Methods:</b> Chitosan nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning, and cut into short fibers by high speed dispersion. CPC with calcium phosphorus ratio of 1.5:1 was prepared by Biocement D method. The composition and structure of CPC, CSNF, RGD modified CSNF (CSNF-RGD), CSNF enhanced CPC (CPC-CSNF), RGD modified CPC-CSNF (CPC-CSNF-RGD) were observed by infrared spectrum, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scan electron microscopy (SEM). The mechanical properties were measured by universal mechanical testing instrument. The adhesion and proliferation of MC3T3 cells were assessed using immunofluorescence staining and MTT method. <b>Results:</b> The distribution of CSNF in the scaffold was homogeneous, and the porous structure between the nanofibers was observed by SEM. The infrared spectrum showed the characteristic peaks at 1633 nm and 1585 nm, indicating that RGD was successfully grafted on chitosan nanofibers. The XRD pattern showed that the bone cement had a certain curability. The stain-stress test showed that break strengths were (17.74±0.54) MPa for CPC-CSNF and (16.67±0.56) MPa for CPCP-CSNF-RGD, both were higher than that of CPC(all <i>P</i><0.05). The immunofluorescence staining and MTT results indicated that MC3T3 cells grew better on CPC-CSNF-RGD after 240 min of culture(all <i>P</i><0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> CSNF-RGD can improve the biomechanical property and biocompatibility of CPC, indicating its potential application in bone tissue repair.

Cushioning properties of weft-knitted spacer fabrics

Three-dimensional spacer fabrics which have a sandwich structure are formed in a single knitting process without any additional joining treatment. They consist of two separate multifilament outer layers connected by arrays of spacer monofilaments. This paper presents an experimental study on the relationships between the cushioning properties and structural parameters of weft-knitted spacer fabrics in order to lay a foundation for the development of seamless shaped impact protectors for human body impact protection. Sixteen spacer fabrics of different structural parameters were knitted on a computerized flat knitting machine and tested on a universal mechanical testing machine. The cushioning properties of the spacer fabrics were analyzed in terms of their structural features, compression stress–strain curves, energy absorption, and compression resilience. It was found that multifilament fineness, spacer yarn diameter, and spacer yarn pattern should be matching in order to form effective binding structures between the outer layers and spacer monofilaments. The results also showed that spacer fabrics knitted with a shorter spacer yarn span distance, coarser monofilaments, and higher spacer yarn density have better compression resistance and absorption energy but inferior compression resilience if their binding structures are effective. This study has practical significance in promoting the application of this type of fabric as a cushion material for human body protection.

Synthesis of multifunctional monomers from rosin for the properties enhancement of soybean-oil based thermosets

Two kinds of rosin derivatives, (2-hydroxy-3-(methacryloyloxy)propyl 7-isopropyl-1,4a-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,10,10a-decahydrophenanthrene-1-carboxylate) (HMPIDDC) and (((7-isopropyl-1,4a-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octahydrophenanthren-1-yl)methyl)azanediyl)bis(2-hydroxypropane-3,1-diyl)bis(2-methylacrylate) (IDOMAHM) were synthesized under mild and easy to implement conditions. The two derivatives were employed as the rigid monomers to copolymerize with acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO), as so to improve the performance of the cured resins. The chemical structures of HMPIDDC and IDOMAHM were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) before copolymerization. The curing behaviors of pristine AESO, AESO/HMPIDDC blend, and AESO/IDOMAHM blend were monitored by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Moreover, the thermal and mechanical properties of the cured resins were evaluated by universal mechanical testing, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results demonstrated that after the introduction of HMPIDDC and IDOMAHM, the glass transition temperature and mechanical properties of the copolymerized resin were significantly increased. In one word, HMPIDDC and IDOMAHM showed dramatic potential to be used as bio-based compounds to improve the properties of soybean-oil based thermosets.

Preparation and evaluation of extracellular matrix scaffold of human adipose tissue

25 g normal adipose tissue was cut into pieces. Then repeated freeze-thaw,enzymatic digestion,organic solvent extraction and vacuum freeze-drying were performed.Adult adipose tissue extracellular tissue matrix was obtained. The traits of extracellular matrix scaffold were observed.HE staining, Masson staining and DAPI fluorescence staining were used to test the effectiveness of the decellularization.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the reservations of extracellular matrix (Ⅳ collagen, laminin).Scanning electron microscopy was introduced to observe the ultrastructure of extracellular matrix scaffold, and universal mechanical testing machine was used to measure the mechanical properties of the scaffolds. Enzyme digestion method was used to extract human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs),and then the 3rd passage hADSCs were cocultured with extracellular matrix scaffold.CCK8 was introduced to assay cell proliferation activity,and scanning electron microscopy was used to observe cellular adhesion. The cells on the scaffold were induced to adipocytes and observed by freezing section and Oil Red O staining after 14 days. The extracellular matrix scaffold of adipose tissue was porous sponges architecture. The cells in tissue were relatively removed. The collagen and laminin were preserved relatively, and the mechanical properties did not decline too much. The cell proliferation, adhesion and differentiation on the scaffold was very well. The extracellular matrix scaffold of adipose tissue, prepared through the methods of physical, chemical, enzymatic digestion and vacuum freeze-drying method, keeps the main ingredients of extracellular matrix and presents a well cellular compatibility, therefore it should be an ideal biologic scaffold for adipose tissue engineering.

Influence of clamping stress and duration on the trauma of liver tissue during surgery operation

BackgroundTissue grasping damage often occurs in minimally invasive surgery, which would increase the postoperative recovery time and the risk of surgical complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between liver tissue trauma and compression stress magnitude and duration during tissue clamping operation. MethodsThe clamping experiments of liver tissues in vivo were conducted by using a universal soft tissue mechanical testing machine under different clamping stress magnitudes and durations. The rabbit liver was used to simulate human liver. A minimally invasive surgery grasper was used in these tests to simulate the real tissue-surgical operation condition. A pathological grading system was created to quantitatively assess the trauma within the liver tissue. The hyperbolic regression models were utilized to predict the trauma degree of liver tissue. FindingsObvious hyperemia, hemorrhage, hepatic capsule rupture and inflammatory cell infiltration appeared in the clamping sites of the liver. Assessment results indicated that the trauma degree increased nonlinearly with the increasing clamping stress and duration time. There exist safe thresholds, in which the severe trauma of the studied tissue can be avoided during grasping operation. InterpretationThe results could provide the safety margins and the trauma prediction models for surgeons during grasping and palpation tasks in minimally invasive surgery.

Enhancement of Flexural Strength of Two Nano-composites by Electron Beam Irradiation

Abstract Aim: The study aimed to assess and investigate the effect of electron beam irradiation on the flexural strength of two newer nanocomposites (Filtek Z350XT and Filtek Bulkfill) Materials and Methods: Forty samples each of both the nanocomposites were prepared on rectangular bar shaped moulds (25*2*2mm) according to ISO 4049. The dosage of electron beam selected for the study were 2KGy, 4KGy and 10KGy. The forty specimens were divided into four groups based on the radiation doses; group I: non radiated, group II: 2KGy , group II: 4 KGy, group II: 10KGy with ten samples in each group. The samples were subjected to a 3point bend test on a universal uniaxial servo mechanical testing machine. Results: The data was statistically analyzed using One way Anova analysis. Analysis demonstrated that Filtek Z350XT had better flexural strength than Filtek Bulkfill (P&lt;0.001). The flexural strength of the composites increased with the dose of electron beam irradiation. Conclusion: Within the limitations of the study, it can be concluded that the electron beam irradiation of the nanocomposites can be used as a tool to enhance their mechanical properties.

Comportamento biomecânico de diferentes placas de avanço da tuberosidade da tíbia em cães: estudo comparativo ex vivo

RESUMO Este é o primeiro estudo que compara o comportamento biomecânico de duas diferentes placas de avanço da tuberosidade tibial (ATT). Com o objetivo de minimizar a incidência de falhas de implante, foram realizados ensaios biomecânicos em 10 pares de membros pélvicos de cadáveres de cães. No membro pélvico direito, foi colocada placa de ATT fixa por garfo, e no membro pélvico esquerdo placa fixa por parafusos. Os ensaios foram realizados utilizando-se máquina universal de ensaios mecânicos Kratos(r), modelo KE3000, dotada de célula de carga de 3000N, com velocidade de ensaio de 20mm/min. O parâmetro força e os gráficos gerados foram gravados por meio de sistema de aquisição analógica TRACOMP-W95 (TRCV61285). A média da carga máxima até a falha foi de 128,70kg/F (mínimo 104,55kg/F e máximo 151,80kg/F) e de 141,99kg/F (mínimo 111,60kg/F e máximo 169,65kg/F) no grupo utilizando garfo e parafusos, respectivamente. O desvio-padrão dos grupos garfo e parafuso foi baixo, 12,99 e 17,21, respectivamente. Foi encontrada diferença significativa (P=0,03) entre as médias dos grupos. Com base nos resultados obtidos, conclui-se que existe diferença estatística significativa na resistência promovida entre as placas testadas, quando se observou que a placa fixa por parafusos promove maior resistência.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) and chitosan blend cross-linked with bis phenol-F-diglycidyl ether: mechanical, thermal and water absorption investigation

In this investigation, blends of poly(vinyl alcohol) and chitosan cross-linked with bis phenol-F-diglycidyl ether were prepared by solution casting method. Epoxy acted as a cross-linker and content was varied from 3.80 × 10−3 to 3.80 × 10−2 mol. Morphology of the blend was examined using scanning electron microscopy which showed homogenous morphology suggesting good miscibility between blend components. FTIR showed significant shifting of peak at 1063 cm−1 to higher frequency implying that intermolecular interaction disturbed crystallization of chitosan in blend. Thermal and mechanical properties were also analyzed by thermo-gravimetric analysis and universal mechanical tester, respectively. Thermal stability of PVA/Ch blends was increased in the presence of epoxy cross-linker. Investigation on mechanical properties of blended films showed that the blending improved the tensile strength (68 MPa), percentage elongation at break (31 MPa), and toughness (13 MPa) while a decrease in Young's modulus (299 MPa) ...

Fabrication of a novel bone ash-reinforced gelatin/alginate/hyaluronic acid composite film for controlled drug delivery

In this study, a novel pH-sensitive composite film with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties was prepared by the incorporation of bone ash at varying concentrations from 0 to 10v.% into gelatin/sodium alginate/hyaluronic acid (Gel/SA/HyA) polymeric structure for colon-specific drug delivery system. Films were characterized by FT-IR, SEM, and XRD analyses. Thermal and mechanical performances of films were determined by DSC, TGA and universal mechanical tester, respectively. Results proved that thermal stability and mechanical properties of bone ash-reinforced composite films improved significantly with respect to that of neat Gel/SA/HyA film. Cytotoxicity assay for composite films was carried out by using L929 cells. Water uptake capacity of films was determined by swelling test. Herein, release experiments of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) were performed in two different solutions (pH 2.1 and 7.4). The results assured that Gel/SA/HyA film containing BA could be considered as a potential biomaterial for controlled drug delivery systems.

Study on different behaviour of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanocomposites in mechanical properties and nano-tensile testing

Nanocomposites consisting of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) matrix and 0, 3, 5 and 8 wt-% fluoropropyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (FP-POSS) were prepared using the solvent evaporation method. The mechanical properties of nanocomposites were investigated by universal mechanical testing and nano-tensile testing. The results derived from two different scales testing both indicated that a small addition of FP-POSS exhibited a positive reinforcement effect of mechanical properties. Meanwhile the reason of the different variation trend of mechanical properties derived from testing standards under different scales was analysed, and the specific role and multi-performance of POSS were estimated.

Crosslinked composite membrane by radiation grafting of 4-vinylpyridine/triallyl-cyanurate mixtures onto poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) and phosphoric acid doping

New crosslinked composite membranes containing doped phosphoric acid (PA) were prepared by radiation induced grafting of 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP) and triallyl cyanurate (TAC) mixtures at various concentrations onto poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) films followed by acid doping. The effect of grafting parameters such as TAC concentration, absorbed dose and monomer concentration on the degree of grafting was investigated. The properties of the obtained membranes such as chemical composition, thermal stability and mechanical properties were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and universal mechanical tester, respectively. The proton conductivity of the membranes was investigated in correlation with TAC content and temperature using the impedance spectroscopy. Of all samples, the crosslinked membrane obtained from grafting a mixture of 4-VP with 5 vol% TAC having a DG of 65% exhibited proton conductivity as high as 39 mS/cm under dry condition at 120 °C. The mechanical properties of the crosslinked membranes were significantly improved compared to the non-crosslinked counterpart. The presence of an interesting combination of properties in PA doped crosslinked membrane suggests a potential for application in medium temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell.

Enhancement of performance of pyridine modified polybenzimidazole fuel cell membranes using zirconium oxide nanoclusters and optimized phosphoric acid doping level

Nanocomposite proton conducting membranes incorporating zirconium oxide (ZrO2) nanoclusters into solution cast 2,6-pyridine polybenzimidazole (2,6-Py-PBI) films and doped with phosphoric acid (PA) were prepared. The content of ZrO2 nanoclusters in the membrane matrix was varied from 0 to 10 wt%. The parameters of the acid doping reaction were optimized by the response surface method (RSM). The membrane properties were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), universal mechanical tester and DC impedance. The incorporation of 5 wt% ZrO2 nanoclusters increased the acid doping level and remarkably enhanced the proton conductivity of the membrane. A maximum proton conductivity of 60.0 mS/cm was recorded compared to 21.5 and 12.0 mS/cm for pristine and 10 wt% ZrO2 containing membranes at 150 °C and dry condition, respectively. The membrane with 5 wt% ZrO2 also showed the highest performance in a single cell at 120 °C under dry conditions. The results suggest that the composite membrane containing 5 wt% ZrO2 nanoclusters has a potential for application in high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell application.

The biomechanical effects of graft rotation on ACL reconstruction tunnel mismatch.

Bone block protrusion out of the tibial tunnel due to a relatively long graft is a common complication in anterior cruciate ligament surgical reconstruction with a patellar tendon. One possible solution is to shorten the patellar tendon graft already fixed in the femur by applying external rotation. This study aimed to evaluate the degree of shortening and biomechanical changes in porcine patellar grafts subjected to relatively higher degrees of rotation. Data obtained with rotations of 0°, 540°, 720°, and 900° were compared. Forty patellar porcine ligaments were subjected to biomechanical tests of degree of shortening, modulus of elasticity and maximum tension in the tendon before rupture. Tests were conducted using a universal mechanical testing machine and a computerized system for acquiring strength and deformation data. Progressive shortening of the patellar ligament occurred with rotations of 0°, 540° and 720°. However, the degree of shortening showed no statistically significant difference as rotation increased from 720° to 900°. Decreased modulus of elasticity was observed compared with the graft rotation at 0° in all groups tested, but no statistically significant differences were observed among 540°, 720° and 900°. The maximum tension of the patellar tendon showed no change before rupture, regardless of the degree of rotation. Rotating the patellar tendon is an efficient method for shortening a relatively long graft; however, more biomechanical studies are necessary to recommend this technique in clinical practice owing to the resulting decrease in graft stiffness that could compromise knee stability.

Experimental evaluation of Bauschinger effects during tension-compression in-plane deformation of sheet materials

An experimental analysis of the effect of in-plane strain path changes and Bauschinger effects during mechanical loading that involves compression is quite challenging for sheet materials because they are prone to buckling. In this paper, we present a newly developed method that allows to deform sheet metals in tension and in compression. Our experimental setup primarily consists of an anti-buckling clamping device that can be used in a universal mechanical testing machine. Surface strains are measured with a digital image correlation (DIC) system. To demonstrate the viability of our method, first tests are conducted on thin sheet specimens (1 mm thickness) of a DC06 steel. Several approaches to reduce friction between the clamping system and the specimen are investigated. The validity of the test results is established in monotonic tensile tests. Measurements with different amounts of maximum tensile strain and reversed strain values are also discussed, showing that the material exhibits a Bauschinger effect, which is further quantified using different Bauschinger parameters.

Mechanical response of fine grained Ti2AlC under extreme thermo-mechanical loading conditions

An experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the compressive constitutive behavior and fracture initiation toughness of fine grained (∼4.2μm) Ti2AlC in dynamic and quasi-static loading at different temperatures. A Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) apparatus was used in conjunction with an induction coil heating system for dynamic experiments at elevated temperatures, while a universal mechanical testing machine equipped with an extensometer and furnace was used for quasi-static compressive testing. A series of experiments were conducted at different temperatures from 25°C to 1200°C and strain rates of 10−4s−1 and 500s−1. A single edge notched specimen was used to determine the fracture initiation toughness in dynamic and quasi-static loading from ambient temperature to 900°C. The SHPB apparatus was modified for this purpose and high speed photography was incorporated to determine fracture initiation time, and the load corresponding to this time was used to calculate the dynamic fracture toughness. The results of this study reveal that the peak compressive failure stress in dynamic conditions decreases with increasing temperature, from 1600MPa at room temperature to 850MPa at 1200°C. In the dynamic testing condition, the failure remains predominately brittle even at temperatures as high as 1200°C. Under static loading conditions, the peak compressive stresses were always lower than those in dynamic loading conditions, but they also decreased monotonically with increasing temperature. Also under static conditions, a significant drop in peak compressive failure stress and an increase in ductility was observed above the brittle-to-plastic transition temperature of around 900°C. The fracture experiments reveal that the strength and fracture toughness in dynamic conditions are higher than the corresponding quasi-static values by approximately 35% at room temperature and that they both decrease with increasing temperatures. It was found that high temperature and low strain rate promote plastic behavior of Ti2AlC.