Development of TiNbTaZrMo bio-high entropy alloy (BioHEA) super-solid solution by selective laser melting, and its improved mechanical property and biocompatibility

BioHEAs, specifically designed high entropy alloy (HEA) systems for biomedical applications, represent a new era for biometals. However, recent challenges are (1) the poor shape customizability, and (2) the inevitable severe segregation due to the intrinsic fact that HEA is an ultra-multicomponent alloy system. To achieve shape customization and suppression of elemental segregation simultaneously, we used an extremely high cooling rate (~107 K/s) of the selective laser melting (SLM) process. We, for the first time, developed pre-alloyed Ti1.4Nb0.6Ta0.6Zr1.4Mo0.6 BioHEA powders and SLM-built parts with low porosity, customizable shape, excellent yield stress, and good biocompatibility. The SLM-built specimens showed drastically suppressed elemental segregation compared to the cast counterpart, representing realization of a super-solid solution. As a result, the 0.2% proof stress reached 1690 ± 78 MPa, which is significantly higher than that of cast Ti1.4Nb0.6Ta0.6Zr1.4Mo0.6 (1140 MPa). The SLM-built Ti1.4Nb0.6Ta0.6Zr1.4Mo0.6 BioHEA is promising as a next-generation metallic material for biomedical applications.Ishimoto T., Ozasa R., Nakano K., et al. Development of TiNbTaZrMo bio-high entropy alloy (BioHEA) super-solid solution by selective laser melting, and its improved mechanical property and biocompatibility. Scripta Materialia, 194, 113658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2020.113658

Novel single crystalline-like non-equiatomic TiZrHfNbTaMo bio-high entropy alloy (BioHEA) developed by laser powder bed fusion

This study developed a non-equiatomic Ti28.33Zr28.33Hf28.33Nb6.74Ta6.74Mo1.55 super-solid solutionized BioHEA using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) to reach the full potential as BioHEA. We succeeded in significant suppression of elemental segregation, thus, resulting in a single crystalline-like texture by activating layer-to-layer epitaxial growth. Relatively low Young’s modulus was achieved in the single crystalline-like BioHEA. Moreover, LPBF-fabricated BioHEA exhibited significantly higher yield stress (1355–1426 MPa) due to the effective solid solution hardening compared to as-cast counterpart with marked segregation (949 MPa), and good biocompatibility. This is first report achieving BioHEA with low modulus, excellent strength-ductility balance, and good biocompatibility via LPBF.Gokcekaya O., Ishimoto T., Nishikawa Y., et al. Novel single crystalline-like non-equiatomic TiZrHfNbTaMo bio-high entropy alloy (BioHEA) developed by laser powder bed fusion. Materials Research Letters 11, 274 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1080/21663831.2022.2147406

Laser beam powder bed fusion of novel biomedical titanium/niobium/tantalum alloys: Powder synthesis, microstructure evolution and mechanical properties

The synthesis of spherical titanium/niobium/tantalum (TNT) alloy powders, namely Ti-20Nb-6Ta, Ti-27Nb-6Ta, Ti-35Nb-6Ta, and Ti-22Nb-19Ta (in wt-%) by electrode induction melting gas atomization is reported. The powder materials are characterized in detail using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Their processability via laser beam powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M) is proven, and microstructure as well as mechanical properties of the additively manufactured specimens are assessed. All powders feature a dendrite-type microstructure with Nb/Ta-rich dendritic and Ti-rich inter-dendritic phases. Crystal structures of the powders are strongly composition-dependent. Nb- and Ta-rich Ti-35Nb-6Ta and Ti-22Nb-19Ta feature a body-centered cubic lattice, whereas Ti-rich Ti-20Nb-6Ta and Ti-27Nb-6Ta powders are characterized by multi-phase microstructures, consisting of non-equilibrium martensitic phases. Processing by PBF-LB/M causes significant changes in their microstructures: the dendrite-type morphologies vanish, and the formation of microstructures with a homogeneous element distribution can be observed in all additively manufactured parts. Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) as well as elongation at fracture are assessed by tensile testing. UTS values are found to be in a range from 651 MPa (Ti-35Nb-6Ta) to 802 MPa (Ti-20Nb-6Ta); strain-to-failure is between 21.3 % (Ti-35Nb-6Ta) and 31.7 % (Ti-22Nb-19Ta). Ductile fracture behavior is seen for all TNT alloys investigated

Advanced Ti–Nb–Ta Alloys for Bone Implants with Improved Functionality

The additive manufacturing of titanium–niobium–tantalum alloys with nominal chemical compositions Ti–xNb–6Ta (x = 20, 27, 35) by means of laser beam powder bed fusion is reported, and their potential as implant materials is elaborated by mechanical and biological characterization. The properties of dense specimens manufactured in different build orientations and of open porous Ti–20Nb–6Ta specimens are evaluated. Compression tests indicate that strength and elasticity are influenced by the chemical composition and build orientation. The minimum elasticity is always observed in the 90° orientation. It is lowest for Ti–20Nb–6Ta (43.2 ± 2.7 GPa) and can be further reduced to 8.1 ± 1.0 GPa for open porous specimens (p < 0.001). Furthermore, human osteoblasts are cultivated for 7 and 14 days on as-printed specimens and their biological response is compared to that of Ti–6Al–4V. Build orientation and cultivation time significantly affect the gene expression profile of osteogenic differentiation markers. Incomplete cell spreading is observed in specimens manufactured in 0° build orientation, whereas widely stretched cells are observed in 90° build orientation, i.e., parallel to the build direction. Compared to Ti–6Al–4V, Ti–Nb–Ta specimens promote improved osteogenesis and reduce the induction of inflammation. Accordingly, Ti–xNb–6Ta alloys have favorable mechanical and biological properties with great potential for application in orthopedic implants

Abschlussbericht des Projekts „T-Nugd – Telenursing-Nursing goes digital“ Entwicklung, Erprobung sowie Evaluation eines wissenschaftlichen Weiterbildungsangebots für Pflegefachpersonen im Bereich der Telemedizin.

Das Forschungsprojekt Telenursing-Nursing goes digital (T-Nugd) hat sich zum Ziel gesetzt, eine bedarfsgerechte Entwicklung, Erprobung sowie Evaluation eines möglichen wissenschaftlichen Weiterbil-dungsangebots im Bereich der Telemedizin/Telepflege vorzunehmen, um auf die aufgezeigten Bedarfe passgenau zu reagieren. Das Projektvorhaben adressiert die pflegerischen Berufsgruppen, die häufig eher zur Gruppe der nicht-traditionell Studierenden gehören. In diesem Kontext wurde das Projekt aus Mitteln des Europäischen Sozialfonds (ESF) zur Öffnung der Hochschulen gefördert. Berufstätige ohne Studienerfahrung und ohne traditionelle Hochschulzugangsberechtigung in Niedersachsen erhielten somit die Möglichkeit kostenfrei an dem entwickelten Weiterbildungsangebot teilzunehmen. Im nachfolgenden Abschlussbericht werden die Entwicklung, Erprobung und Evaluation des T-Nugd Weiterbildungsangebots beschrieben. Auf dieser Basis folgt eine Zusammenfassung der Erkenntnisse, die für die Weiterentwicklung angepasster Weiterbildungsprogramme zur Digitalisierung in der Pflege von Interesse sind. Ebenfalls folgt ein Ausblick, ob und wo noch weitere Wissens-, Entwicklungs-, Erprobungs- oder Evaluationsbedarfe bestehen

Estimation of Dermal Exposure to Oil Spill Response and Clean-up Workers after the Deepwater Horizon Disaster

The GuLF STUDY is investigating health outcomes associated with oil spill-related chemical exposures among workers involved in the spill response and clean-up following the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Due to the lack of dermal exposure measurements, we estimated dermal exposures using a deterministic model, which we customized from a previously published model. Workers provided information on the frequency of contact with oil, tar, chemical dispersants applied to the oil spill and sea water, as well as the use of protective equipment, by job/activity/task. Professional judgment by industrial hygienists served as a source of information for other model variables. The model estimated dermal exposures to total hydrocarbons (THC), benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, xylene, n-hexane (BTEX-H), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and dispersants in GuLF DREAM units (GDUs). Arithmetic means (AMs) of THC exposure estimates across study participants ranged from 0.9) for most of the substances in oil but were lower for some of the substances in tar. These data were linked to the study participants to allow investigation of adverse health effects that may be related to dermal exposures

Novel single crystalline-like non-equiatomic TiZrHfNbTaMo bio-high entropy alloy (BioHEA) developed by laser powder bed fusion

This study developed a non-equiatomic Ti28.33Zr28.33Hf28.33Nb6.74Ta6.74Mo1.55 super-solid solutionized BioHEA using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) to reach the full potential as BioHEA. We succeeded in significant suppression of elemental segregation, thus, resulting in a single crystalline-like texture by activating layer-to-layer epitaxial growth. Relatively low Young&apos;s modulus was achieved in the single crystalline-like BioHEA. Moreover, LPBF-fabricated BioHEA exhibited significantly higher yield stress (1355-1426 MPa) due to the effective solid solution hardening compared to as-cast counterpart with marked segregation (949 MPa), and good biocompatibility. This is first report achieving BioHEA with low modulus, excellent strength-ductility balance, and good biocompatibility via LPBF. IMPACT STATEMENT This study achieved super-solid-solutionized and single crystalline-like TiZrHfNbTaMo bio-high entropy alloy using laser powder bed fusion, resulting in low Young&apos;s modulus along oriented direction, excellent strength-ductility balance, and good cytocompatibility.11Nsciescopu

GuLF DREAM:A Model to Estimate Dermal Exposure Among Oil Spill Response and Clean-up Workers

Tens of thousands of individuals performed oil spill response and clean-up (OSRC) activities following the 'Deepwater Horizon' oil drilling rig explosion in 2010. Many were exposed to oil residues and dispersants. The US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences assembled a cohort of nearly 33 000 workers to investigate potential adverse health effects of oil spill exposures. Estimates of dermal and inhalation exposure are required for those individuals. Ambient breathing-zone measurements taken at the time of the spill were used to estimate inhalation exposures for participants in the GuLF STUDY (Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study), but no dermal measurements were collected. Consequently, a modelling approach was used to estimate dermal exposures. We sought to modify DREAM (DeRmal Exposure Assessment Method) to optimize the model for assessing exposure to various oil spill-related substances and to incorporate advances in dermal exposure research. Each DREAM parameter was reviewed in the context of literature published since 2000 and modified where appropriate. To reflect the environment in which the OSRC work took place, the model treatment of evaporation was expanded to include vapour pressure and wind speed, and the effect of seawater on exposure was added. The modified model is called GuLF DREAM and exposure is estimated in GuLF DREAM units (GDU). An external validation to assess the performance of the model for oils, tars, and fuels was conducted using available published dermal wipe measurements of heavy fuel oil (HFO) and dermal hand wash measurements of asphalt. Overall, measured exposures had moderate correlations with GDU estimates (r = 0.59) with specific correlations of -0.48 for HFO and 0.68 for asphalt. The GuLF DREAM model described in this article has been used to generate dermal exposure estimates for the GuLF STUDY. Many of the updates made were generic, so the updated model may be useful for other dermal exposure scenarios