A boron carbide coating was applied to diamond particles by heating the particles in a powder mixture consisting of H3BO3, B and Mg. The composition, bond state and coverage fraction of the boron carbide coating on the diamond particles were investigated. The boron carbide coating prefers to grow on the diamond (100) surface than on the diamond (111) surface. A stoichiometric B4C coating comple...

While empirical relationships between the mechanical properties of WC-Cocomposites and the carbide grain size and carbide volume fraction are qualitatively well-known, the influence of other microstructural features on the macroscopic properties hasbeen less clear. In this thesis, a comprehensive study of the effect of the interfacecharacter distribution (grain shape and misorie...

Near-isotropic pyrolytic carbon containing a small amount of co-deposited silicon carbide has been used for years as the materials from which prosthetic heart valves are fabricated [ 1 ]. Silicon carbide was introduced into this material to increase the hardness and thereby the wear resistance of the material. Silicon carbide, however, has poor thromboresistance relative to pyrolytic carbon, so...

We report the study of ultrasound tunneling in 3D phononic crystals, consisting of fcc arrays of close-packed tungsten carbide beads in water. The transmission coefficient, phase velocity, and group velocity were measured along the [111] direction, allowing us to systematically investigate the tunneling of ultrasound at frequencies in the lowest band gap. Our experimental data are interpreted u...

OBJECTIVE Functional tissue engineering has emerged as a potential means for treatment of cartilage defect. Development of a stable cartilage composite is considered to be a good option. The aim of the study was to observe whether the incorporation of cultured chondrocytes on porous tantalum utilizing fibrin as a cell carrier would promote cartilage tissue formation. METHODS Rabbit articular ...

At present there is no satisfactory treatment for deep osteochondral defects. Here we report the development of a biologic prosthetic composite containing periosteum from 2-month-old rabbits and a porous tantalum scaffold. When cultured under chondrogenic conditions, the composites form a robust hyaline-like cartilage outgrowth that is attached to the porous scaffold by fibrous tissue ingrowth....

An XRF analyser suitable for measuring up to 15 liters of slurry has been tested in the laboratory. A range of slurries consisting of approximately 40 wt% solids and low concentrations of tantalum were obtained and measured. The accuracy of the analyser has been determined to be ±2 ppm (1 sigma). Improvements are planned that will significantly increase the speed and accuracy of the analyser an...

This paper describes the fabrication and mechanical testing of Al-Mg-boron carbide particulate composites using stir casting technique. The size of the boron carbide particulates is ranging between 30 to 100 μm. The boron carbide contents are varied from 3 and 7% by weight and are dispersed in the alloy matrix. The mechanical properties of the castings, particularly their tensile properties and...