Morphology and Structure of Al2O3 + Graphene Low-Friction Composite Coatings

Recently, graphene and its derivatives have been of particular interest as a solid lubricant to reduce friction. The aim of this study was to investigate the morphology and structure of low-friction Al2O3 coatings containing reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Using two types of rGO, alumina coatings were produced by the sol–gel dip-coating method and characterized in terms of morphology and structure using SEM and AFM microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. It was found that composite Al2O3 + rGO coatings had diversified morphology depending on the type of graphene used. The dip-coating method used for deposition had a large impact on the morphology and contributed to the orderly arrangement of rGO nanoplates in the coating matrices. It was also shown that there is a correlation between the shape and spatial orientation of nanoplates and the tribological properties of coatings. The structural studies showed differences in the number of graphene defects in the coatings, which may indicate the chemical bonding of graphene with the alumina matrices. These differences may also be responsible for divergences in the tribological properties of the coatings depending on the type of graphene. All our findings indicate the key role of an appropriate balance between the parameters of composite coating production in terms of the desired tribological properties

Functional Ceramic Coatings

Modern materials engineering, just like other areas of today’s science and technology, requires a comprehensive and balanced approach that takes into account all factors that affect not only the design and functional properties of materials, but also their economic profitability and rational management of the available resources [...

Al2O3 + Graphene Low-Friction Composite Coatings Prepared By Sol–Gel Method

In this work, Al2O3 + graphene coatings were prepared using the sol–gel method. The aim of the study was preliminary determination of the influence of size and amount of graphene nanoplatelets on morphology, chemical structure, and basic tribological properties of Al2O3 + graphene composite coatings. Two types of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanoplatelets with different lateral size and thickness were used to prepare the coatings. To characterize them, scanning electron microscope (SEM), glow discharged optical emission spectrometer (GDOES), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), reflectance spectrometer, and ball-on-disk tribological tests were used. It was found that the presence of graphene in the Al2O3 + graphene coatings did not fundamentally change the chemical transformation of ceramic Al2O3 matrix. Morphology examinations of coatings containing larger graphene nanoplatelets revealed a tendency to their parallel arrangement in relation to the coated surface. The tribological properties of Al2O3 + graphene coatings turned out to be strongly dependent on the size of graphene nanoplatelets as well as on the heat treatment temperature. The friction coefficient as low as 0.11 and good durability were obtained for the Al2O3 + graphene coating with larger nanoplatelets and heat-treated at 500 °C. The results of conducted research indicate the potential use of Al2O3 + graphene composite coatings prepared by the sol–gel method as low-friction ceramic coatings

Antibacterial Properties of Zn Doped Hydrophobic SiO2 Coatings Produced by Sol-Gel Method

Bacteria existing on the surfaces of various materials can be both a source of infection and an obstacle to the proper functioning of structures. Increased resistance to colonization by microorganisms can be obtained by applying antibacterial coatings. This paper describes the influence of surface wettability and amount of antibacterial additive (Zn) on bacteria settlement on modified SiO2-based coatings. The coatings were made by sol-gel method. The sols were prepared on the basis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), modified with methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) and the addition of zinc nitrate or zinc acetate. Roughness and surface wettability tests, as well as study of the chemical structure of the coatings were carried out. The antibacterial properties of the coatings were checked by examining their susceptibility to colonization by Escherichia coli. It was found that the addition of zinc compound reduced the susceptibility to colonization by E. coli, while in the studied range, roughness and hydrophobicity did not affect the level of bacteria adhesion to the coatings

Comparison of Mechanical and Barrier Properties of Al2O3/TiO2/ZrO2 Layers in Oxide-Hydroxyapatite Sandwich Composite Coatings Deposited by Sol-Gel Method on Ti6Al7Nb Alloy

In this study, coatings of different oxides (TiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2) and hydroxyapatite (HAp) as well as sandwich composite hydroxyapatite with an oxides sublayer (oxide+HAp) were deposited on Ti6Al7Nb alloy using the sol-gel dip-coating method. The coatings were characterized in terms of morphology (optical microscope), surface topography (AFM), thickness (ellipsometry), and crystal structure (XRD/GIXRD). The mechanical properties of the coatings-hardness, Young's modulus, and adhesion to the substrate-were examined using nanoindentation and scratch tests. The barrier properties of the coatings against the migration of aluminum ions were examined by measuring their concentration after soaking in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) with the use of optical emission spectrometry of inductively coupled plasma (ICPOES). It was found that all the oxide and HAp coatings reduced the permeation of Al ions from the Ti6Al7Nb alloy substrate. The best features revealed an Al2O3 layer that had excellent barrier properties and the best adhesion to the substrate. Al2O3 as a sublayer significantly improved the properties of the sandwich composite HAp coating

Impact of Elevated Temperatures on Strength Properties and Microstructure of Calcium Sulfoaluminate Paste

This article is motivated by civil fire safety. Fire-prevention engineering demands a wide range of information about building materials including alternative cements, for instance CSA-cement. Because of exposure of the cement-base material to a high temperature, its strength properties deteriorate due to dehydration connected with phase and microstructure changes. Previous research indicated that the main endothermic reaction of CSA-based composite, dehydration of ettringite, might be used as a cooling system for a metal structure during fire-load. This article examines visual assessment, microstructure, density, as well as flexural and compressive strength parameters of CSA-based composite after isothermal heating at temperatures from 23 °C to 800 °C. The results of SEM/EDS investigations showed that the calcium sulfoaluminate paste may start partially re-sintering above 600 °C. Mechanical tests revealed significant reduction of strength parameters but residual compressive strength was maintained in the whole temperature range e.g., 8 MPa at 800 °C. Additionally, visual assessment of the specimens indicated that it might be possible to predict the material temperature heating based on the specific surface color. These findings add to the evidence of general knowledge about CSA hydrates

Epoxy Resin-Based Materials Containing Natural Additives of Plant Origin Dedicated to Rail Transport

The presented study is focused on the modification of commercially available epoxy resin with flame retardants by means of using natural substances, including quercetin hydrate and potato starch. The main aim was to obtain environmentally friendly material dedicated to rail transport that is resistant to the aging process during exploitation but also more prone to biodegradation in environmental conditions after usage. Starch is a natural biopolymer that can be applied as a pro-ecological filler, which may contribute to degradation in environmental conditions, while quercetin hydrate is able to prevent a composite from premature degradation during exploitation. To determine the aging resistance of the prepared materials, the measurements of hardness, color, mechanical properties and surface free energy were performed before and after solar aging. To assess the mechanical properties of the composite material, one-directional tensile tests were performed for three directions (0, 90, 45 degrees referred to the plate edges). Moreover, the FT-IR spectra of pristine and aged materials were obtained to observe the changes in chemical structure. Furthermore, thermogravimetric analysis was conducted to achieve information about the impact of natural substances on the thermal resistance of the achieved composites

Stimulation of phenolic compounds production in the in vitro cultivated Polyscias filicifolia Bailey shoots and evaluation of the antioxidant and cytotoxic potential of plant extracts

In this study, an efficient method to enhance phenolic compound production in the in vitro cultured shoots of Polyscias filicifolia was developed. The phenolic compound content in P. filicifolia has not yet been reported. Shoots were treated with methyl jasmonate (JM) or salicylic acid (SA) at doses of 50, 100, or 200 µM. HPLC-UV-VIS and LC-MS techniques were used for the determination of chlorogenic, caffeic, and ferulic acids. The total phenolics and flavonoids were quantified, and the antioxidant capacity of plant extracts was determined using DPPH and ABTS methods. Finally, the cytotoxic activity of P. filicifolia extracts in normal (HaCaT) and cancer (A549) cells was investigated. Further, the effect of the extracts on cisplatin cytotoxicity was assessed. The elicitors significantly enhanced phenolic production compared to that in untreated shoots and leaves of intact plants. Chlorogenic acid was the most abundant compound with the highest yield of 5.03 ±0.25 mg/g DW after treatment with 50 µM SA. The total flavonoid and phenolic content was significantly and dose-dependently influenced by JM. The highest antioxidant capacity was noted in extracts derived from shoots grown on media supplemented with 50 µM SA and 200 µM JM; these doses were used for further cytotoxic activity investigations. The extracts from JM or SA treatments reduced cancer cell viability and increased their mortality, whereas the extract from JM treatment exhibited protective effect on normal cells. Moreover, the comparison of cytotoxic properties of plant extracts and cisplatin indicated that plant phenolic compounds in combination with anticancer drugs could reduce the detrimental effect of the latter on human cells