Graphene Oxide Carboxymethylcellulose Nanocomposite for Dressing Materials

Sore, infected wounds are a major clinical issue, and there is thus an urgent need for novel biomaterials as multifunctional constituents for dressings. A set of biocomposites was prepared by solvent casting using different concentrations of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and exfoliated graphene oxide (Exf-GO) as a filler. Exf-GO was first obtained by the strong oxidation and exfoliation of graphite. The structural, morphological and mechanical properties of the composites (CMCx/Exf-GO) were evaluated, and the obtained composites were homogenous, transparent and brownish in color. The results confirmed that Exf-GO may be homogeneously dispersed in CMC. It was found that the composite has an inhibitory activity against the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, but not against Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa. At the same time, it does not exhibit any cytotoxic effect on normal fibroblasts

Microstructure and magnetic properties of Nd-Fe-B-(Re, Ti) alloys

The microstructure and magnetic properties of nanocomposite hard magnetic Nd-Fe-B-(Re, Ti) materials with different Nd and Fe contents are studied. The role of Re and Ti addition in phase composition and volume fraction of the Nd-Fe-B phase is determined. All samples are annealed at the same temperature of 993 K for 10 min. Mössbauer spectroscopy shows that the addition of 4 at.% of Re to the Nd8Fe78B14 alloy leads to creation of an ineligible amount of the magnetically hard Nd2Fe14B phase. Moreover, the microstructure and magnetic characteristics recorded in a wide range of temperatures for the Nd8Fe79−xB13Mx (x = 4; M = Re or Ti) alloys are also analyzed

Some Thermomagnetic and Mechanical Properties of Amorphous Fe75Zr4Ti3Cu1B17 Ribbons

The microstructure, revealed by X-ray diffraction and transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy, magnetization versus temperature, external magnetizing field induction and mechanical hardness of the as-quenched Fe75Zr4Ti3Cu1B17 amorphous alloy with two refractory metals (Zr, Ti) have been measured. The X-ray diffraction is consistent with the Mössbauer spectra and is characteristic of a single-phase amorphous ferromagnet. The Curie point of the alloy is about 455 K, and the peak value of the isothermal magnetic entropy change, derived from the magnetization versus external magnetizing field induction curves, equals 1.7 J·kg−1·K−1. The refrigerant capacity of this alloy exhibits the linear dependence on the maximum magnetizing induction (Bm) and reaches a value of 110 J·kg−1 at Bm = 2 T. The average value of the instrumental hardness (HVIT) is about 14.5 GPa and is superior to other crystalline Fe-based metallic materials measured under the same conditions. HVIT does not change drastically, and the only statistically acceptable changes are visibly proving the single-phase character of the material

Impact of Ion Irradiation upon Structure and Magnetic Properties of NANOPERM-Type Amorphous and Nanocrystalline Alloys

Structural modifications and their impact upon magnetic properties are studied in amorphous and nanocrystalline NANOPERM-type 57Fe75Mo8Cu1B16 alloy. They are introduced by irradiation with 130 keV N+ ions to the total fluencies of up to 2.5 × 1017 ions/cm2 under different cooling conditions. Increased temperature during the irradiation triggers formation of nanocrystallites of bcc-Fe in those subsurface regions that are affected by bombarding ions. No crystallization occurs when good thermal contact between the irradiated sample and a sample holder is assured. Instead, structural rearrangement which favours development of magnetically active regions was determined by the local probe methods of Mössbauer spectrometry. Dipole magnetic interactions dominate in subsurface regions on that side of the ribbons which was exposed to ion irradiation. Nevertheless, structural modifications demonstrate themselves also via macroscopic magnetic parameters such as temperature dependence of magnetization, Curie temperature, and hysteresis loops. Impact of only the temperature itself to the observed effects is assessed by the help of samples that were subjected just to heat treatment, that is, without ion irradiation

Determination of Phase Transition and Critical Behavior of the As-Cast GdGeSi-(X) Type Alloys (Where X = Ni, Nd and Pr)

The aim of the paper is to present a study of the magnetocaloric effect and the nature of phase transition in the Gd80Ge15Si5 (S1), Gd75Ge15Si5Ni5 (S2), Gd75Ge15Si5Pr5 (S3) and Gd75Ge15Si5Nd5 (S4) alloys. The magnetic entropy changes determined for studied samples, under external magnetic field ~3T, were 11.91, 12.11, 5.08 and 4.71 J/(kg K) for S1, S2, S3 and S4, respectively. The values of refrigerant capacity (under ~3T) were 164, 140, 160 and 140 J/kg for S1, S2, S3 and S4, respectively. The first order phase transition was detected for samples S1 and S2, while specimens S3 and S4 manifested the second order phase transition at the Curie point (TC). The analysis of temperature evolution of the exponent n (ΔSM = C·(Bmax)n) showed the validity of this method in detecting either the first or the second order phase transition and the structural transition. The analysis of critical behavior was carried out for samples S3 and S4. The critical exponents and precise TC values were calculated. The ascertained critical exponents were used to determine the theoretical value of the exponent n, which corresponded well with experimental result

Review on Biocompatibility and Prospect Biomedical Applications of Novel Functional Metallic Glasses

The continuous development of novel materials for biomedical applications is resulting in an increasingly better prognosis for patients. The application of more advanced materials relates to fewer complications and a desirable higher percentage of successful treatments. New, innovative materials being considered for biomedical applications are metallic alloys with an amorphous internal structure called metallic glasses. They are currently in a dynamic phase of development both in terms of formulating new chemical compositions and testing their properties in terms of intended biocompatibility. This review article intends to synthesize the latest research results in the field of biocompatible metallic glasses to create a more coherent picture of these materials. It summarizes and discusses the most recent findings in the areas of mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, in vitro cellular studies, antibacterial properties, and in vivo animal studies. Results are collected mainly for the most popular metallic glasses manufactured as thin films, coatings, and in bulk form. Considered materials include alloys based on zirconium and titanium, as well as new promising ones based on magnesium, tantalum, and palladium. From the properties of the examined metallic glasses, possible areas of application and further research directions to fill existing gaps are proposed

Subsurface structure and magnetic parameters of Fe-Mo-Cu-B metallic glass

Subsurface properties of 57Fe81Mo9Cu1B9 metallic glass were studied by conversion electron and conversion X-ray Mössbauer spectrometry. They were applied to both surfaces of the ribbons. Deviations in structural surface features are exhibited via different contents of crystalline phases, which were identified as bcc-Fe and magnetite. The presence of small ferromagnetic particles was also suggested from magnetic measurements. An influence of irradiation with 130-keV N+ ions on surface properties of the as-quenched alloy is also discussed

Microstructure, Magnetic Properties, and Application of FINEMET-Type Alloys with Co Addition

The choice of materials for cores of electrotechnical devices is currently related to energy saving and global warming problems. Nanocrystalline alloys are emerging as materials for cores in these devices in addition to amorphous materials already commonly used due to their better magnetic properties at high operating frequencies. The thermal stability of the magnetic properties of cores is also an important criterion. Keeping these criteria in mind, a study of microstructure and magnetic properties was carried out in this work, and FeCoNbBCu-type material was selected for use as the core of a choke operating in a DC/DC converter in interleaved topology. On the basis of the conducted studies, it was found that good magnetic properties and the best thermal stability were shown by Fe58Co25Nb3B13Cu1 alloy. Using RALE software, the technical parameters of the choke core were determined and compared with the same parameters for a choke core made of FINEMET-type alloy