Journal of Advanced Materials in Engineering (Esteghlal)

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The positive effect of Si and Zn ions on bone formation and metabolism has already been confirmed. The aim of this study was preparation and characterization of Willemite (Zn2SiO4) for the repair of bone defects. Willemite was prepared through solid state reaction. Phase analysis and chemical compositions were investigated. The zeta potential of the nanoparticles was determined in physiological saline, and compressive strength and Young's modulus of the samples were measured. The ability of hydroxyapatite formation was investigated in simulated body fluid (SBF) and cytotoxicity of the particles was evaluated in contact with human bone marrow stem cells. The results of this study showed that Willemite nanobioceramic is obtained with the expected chemical composition and negative zeta potential. The results also showed that the hydroxyapatite forming ability in SBF was not strong. MTT assay confirmed the cell proliferation and availability in contact with a specific concentration of Willemite nanoparticles. All these findings indicate that Willemite nanobioceramic with proper biocompatibility can be suggested as a novel biomaterial for the repair of bone defects.

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Based on molecular dynamics simulation results, a model was developed for determining elastic properties of aluminum nanocomposites reinforced with silicon carbide particles. Also, two models for prediction of density and price of nanocomposites were suggested. Then, optimal volume fraction of reinforcement was obtained by genetic algorithm method for the least density and price, and the highest elastic properties. Based on optimization results, the optimum volume fraction of reinforcement was obtained equal to 0.44. For this optimum volume fraction, optimum Young’s modulus, shear modulus, the price and the density of the nanocomposite were obtained 165.89 GPa, 111.37 GPa, 8.75 $/lb and 2.92 gr/cm3, respectively.

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In this study, the effect of nano-titania addition on the mechanical strength of mullite-bonded alumina-siliconcarbide nano-composites was investigated. To this end, the gel-casting process via nano-silica sol was used for shaping the nano-composite.The firing temperature of composition was determined by use of STA. The compressive and bending strengths of samples were measured after firing at 1300 °C. Besides, the physical properties, phase composition and microstructure of the composites were evaluated after firing. The results showed that the use of nano-titania up to 1 wt.% had a higher effect on improvement of nano-composite mechanical strength. The nano-titania addition led to increasing of mullite phase and higher growth of its needle-like grains. Enhancing of ceramic bonds between grains and the improvement of mechanical strength were obtained by increasing the mullite phase.

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In this research, stiffness of polymer-clay nanocomposites was simulated by Mori-Tanaka and two and three dimensional finite element models. Nanoclays were dispersed into polymer matrix in two ways, namely parallel and random orientations toward loading direction. Effects of microstructural parameters including volume fraction of nanoclays, elastic modulus of nanoclays and interphase, thickness of interphase, aspect ratio of nanoclays and random orientation of nanoclays on elastic modulus of the nanocomposite were investigated by finite element model. Comparing the simulation with experimental results showed that the Mori-Tanak simulation results were closer to the experimental results. Analysis of results showed that the volume fraction of nanoclay, elastic modulus of nanoclay, deviation of nanoclay layers with respect to loading direction, nanoclays aspect ratio, thickness of interphase and the elastic modulus of interphase had respectively the most to the least effect on elastic modulus of nanocomposite.

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Bio-inspired silver nanoparticles were synthesized with the aid of a novel method, using leaves of the plant Nigella sativa. After drying the leaves in air, they were first sweltered in boiling distilled water and the liquid was filtered subsequently. The result was the brothused to reduce solutions including various concentrations of silver nitrate in a proper amount of pH. The displayed UV–visible spectra identified formation of silver nanoparticles whenever the colorless initial acclimated mixture turned brown. The centrifuged powder samples were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray diffraction analysis (EDX) methods. The results clearly revealed that the final particles of precipitated powder are high purity agglomerates of silver nanoparticles. Besides, the effects of various amounts of the silver salt on particle size of nano silver were studied, using a particle size analyzer. FTIR results also indicated the role of different functional groups in the synthetic process.

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The aim of the present study is to study the effects of adding  diopside (CaMgSi₂O₆) as well as silica sulfuric acid nanoparticles to ceramic part of glass ionomer cement (GIC) in order to improve its mechanical properties. To do this, firstly, diopside (DIO) nanoparticles with chemical formula of CaMgSi₂O₆ were synthesized using sol-gel process and then, the structural and morphological properties of synthesized diopside nanoparticles were investigated. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and particle size analyzing (PSA) confirmed that synthesized diopside are nanoparticles and agglomerated. Besides, the result of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses approved the purity of diopside nanoparticles compounds. Silica sulfuric acid (SSA) nanoparticles are also prepared by chemical modification of silica nanoparticles by means of chlorosulfonic acid. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technique was used to find about the presence of the (SO₃H) groups on the surface of silica sulfuric acid nanoparticles. Furthermore, various amounts (0.1, 3 and 5 wt.%) of diopside and silica sulfuric acid nanoparticles were added to the ceramic part of GIC (Fuji II GIC commercial type) to produce glass ionomer cement nanocomposites. The mechanical properties of the produced nanocomposites were measured using the compressive strength, three-point flexural strength and diametral tensile strength methods. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy technique confirmed the presence of the (SO₃H) groups on the surface of silica nanoparticles. The compressive strength, three-point flexural strength and diametral tensile strength were 42.5, 15.4 and 6 MPa, respectively, without addition. Although adding 1% silica solfonic acid improved nanocomposite mchanical properties by almost 122%, but maximum increase in nanocomposite mechanical properties was observed in the nanocomposites with 3% diposid, in which 160% increase was seen in the mechanical properties.

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In this paper the effect of deep cryogenic treatment time on microstructure and tribological behavior of AISI 5120 case hardennig steel is studied. The disk shape samples were carburized at 920 ^◦C for 6 hours and air cooled; after austenitizing, the samples were quenched in oil.Then immediately after quenching and sanding, the sample were kept in liquid nitrogen for 1, 24, 30 and 48 h and then tempered at 200 ^◦C for 2 hours. The wear test was done by ball on disk method using of WC ball at 80 and 110 N load. For characterization of carbides, the etchant solution of CuCl₂ (5 gr)+HCl (100 mL) + ethanol (100 mL) was used. The hardness of samples before and after of tempering was measured by vicers method at 300 N load.. The amount of retained austenite was measured by X Ray Diffraction method. For 1DCT and 24DCT samples it was about 8% and 4%; in the other samples, the retained austenite peal was so decreased that it was not visible. The result showed that the hardness increases by deep cryogenic treatment in all speciments. While wear resistance increases in 1DCT and 24DCT samples, it decreases for 30DCT and 48DCT samples in compare with Conventional heat treatment (CHT) sample in both applied loads, such that , 48DCT sample has the least wear resistance. The cause of increament of hardness is due to reduction in amount of retained austenite as a result of deep cryogenic treatment and decreasing in wear resistance after 24 hour, is due to carbide growth and nonhemogenuse distribution in microstructure and then weakening of matrix. So the 24 hour deep cryogenic treatment was the best optimal for AISI 5120 steel.

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In this research, the nanopowders of lanthanum and neodymium co-doped yttria were synthesized by sol-gel combustion method. Citric acid and glycine were used as the gel maker and fuel respectively. The effect of molar ratio of citric acid to glycine on the grain size and morphology was evaluated. The optimized products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), UV–visible (UV–Vis), thermal gravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The optimized products which are synthesized with a molar ratio citric acid to glycine 1.06:1.06 have an average grain size of 30-40nm with spherical morphology, and without agglomeration. Also, their band gap is 3.29eV.

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In this research, the effect of standoff distance and explosive material thickness on metallurgical features of explosive welding connection of copper to 304 stainless steel has been investigated. Experimental analysis were performed using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, microhardness test and tensile shear strength test. The results indicated that due to severe plastic deformation in welding, both grain elongation and refinement occurred near the connection. Also, increasing of welding parameters led to an increase in the locally melted zones. The results showed that chemical composition of the melted zone consisted of elements of both flyer and base plates. By decreasing the explosive material thickness and standoff distance, the hardness of copper interface zone decreased from 103.4 HV to 99.8 HV. Moreover, increasing the temperature in stainless steel connection led to decreased hardness. As such, the maximum tensile shear strength of 244 MPa was observed  in the sample with 79 mm explosive thickness and 3 mm standoff and the minimum tensile shear strength of about 208 MPa in the sample with 46 mm explosive thickness and 3 mm standoff. By decreasing explosive thickness and standoff, the bond strength decreased, too.