Bioactive and Tribological Behaviour of Atmospheric Plasma Sprayed Hydroxyapatite Coatings Reinforced by Lanthanum Oxide

Lanthanum oxide (La2O3) reinforced Hydroxyapatite coating was deposited by using unique gas tunnel type plasma spray torch under optimum spraying conditions. The phase and microstructure of the as-prepared powder and coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). In vitro bioactivity of the plasma sprayed lanthanum oxide reinforced hydroxyapatite coatings were investigated by using simulated body fluid solution. Results showed that there was onset of apatite formation on the surface of coatings after 15 days of immersion in SBF, while after 19 days of immersion in SBF it was indicated that a HCAp phase crystallized on their surface. Our studies demonstrate that lanthanum oxide reinforced hydroxyapatite coatings are potentially useful biomaterials with good tribological and bioactive behaviour

Structural, optical, morphological and SHG studies on 8 MeV electron beam irradiated Sr(HCOO)2·2H2O crystal

Strontium formate dihydrate single crystals have been grown by the slow solvent evaporation method and subjected to 8 MeV electron beam (EB) irradiation at different doses, viz. 1 kGy, 10 kGy, 50 kGy and 100 kGy. The irradiated crystals have been studied by various techniques such as FT-IR, Raman, and UV-Vis-NIR spectral analyses, powder, and high resolution X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTA) and second harmonic generation (SHG) measurements. The morphological features of the non-irradiated and irradiated crystals were analyzed by SEM and optical microscopy studies. It has been noticed that the SHG efficiency increases while the crystalline perfection and thermal stability of the irradiated crystals decrease with the increase of EB irradiation dose. The results indicate a significant overall tuning of physical properties of strontium formate dihydrate crystals due to irradiation

Synthesis of nanostructured spherical aluminum oxide powders by plasma engineering

Irregularly shaped aluminum oxide particles were plasma atomized resulting in narrow size range distribution of spherical nanostructured powders. Cooling rates, on the order of 106 to 108 K/s, were obtained from the different quenching medias, viz. air, water, and liquid nitrogen. Plasma-engineered powder particles developed nanosize crystallites, while solidification provided insight into the morphological feasibility in refinement of grain size. X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods have been used to quantify the crystallite size obtained with different quenching media. Raman peak shift validated the X-ray analysis in anticipating the grain refinement with increasing cooling rates. Salient structural morphology characteristics and a detailed understanding of spheroidized plasma-sprayed alumina powders were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies. Formation of nanograins, novel metastable phases, and amorphous structure were endorsed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations