Preparation of highly wettable coatings on Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy for traumatological implants using micro-arc oxidation in an alkaline electrolyte.

Pulsed micro-arc oxidation (MAO) in a strongly alkaline electrolyte (pH > 13), consisting of Na2SiO3⋅9H2O and NaOH, was used to form a thin porous oxide coating consisting of two layers differing in chemical and phase composition. The unique procedure, combining MAO and removal of the outer layer by blasting, enables to prepare a coating suitable for application in temporary traumatological implants. A bilayer formed in an alkaline electrolyte environment during the application of MAO enables the formation of a wear-resistant layer with silicon incorporated in the oxide phase. Following the removal of the outer rutile-containing porous layer, the required coating properties for traumatological applications were determined. The prepared surfaces were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction patterns, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and contact angle measurements. Cytocompatibility was evaluated using human osteoblast-like Saos-2 cells. The newly-developed surface modifications of Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy performed satisfactorily in all cellular tests in comparison with MAO-untreated alloy and standard tissue culture plastic. High cell viability was supported, but the modifications allowed only relatively slow cell proliferation, and showed only moderate osseointegration potential without significant support for matrix mineralization. Materials with these properties are promising for utilization in temporary traumatological implants.

Influence of Microwave Treatment on Ghassoul Stability.

Moroccan clay with a significant portion of stevensite, locally known as Ghassoul, is a very good sorbent. For the facilitation of the sorbent separation, it is convenient to use its magnetically modified form. Recently, the composites of FexOy/Ghassoul have been prepared using simple microwave assisted synthesis and the effect of method preparation on composite composition has been proven. The aim of the presented work was to evaluate the effect of the microwave radiation on the structure and stability of native Ghassoul. Water extracts were prepared by batch method using deionized water. The leachate was prepared for 1, 6 and 24 hours in 1:1000 ratio of solid and liquid phase from the original material and the material after interaction with microwave radiation. In the filtrate, pH was determined as well as concentrations of Al, Ca, K, Mg, Na and Si using Atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. The results imply that microwave treatment of the material changes the pH of the leachates to more acidic compared to the original material in which the pH increases. Even the microwave treatment of Ghassoul did not cause changes in Al, in contrast with Si which was leached considerably more in the case of the microwave-treated sample. Opposite result was observed in the case of Na and Mg. Leached amounts of Ca were comparable in both the treatments, leached amounts K were not affected by the treatment and leaching time.

Effects of binder choice in converter and blast furnace sludge briquette preparation: Environmental and practical implications.

Blast furnace and converter sludges are fine-grained waste materials characterized as dangerous waste with a negative impact on the environment. One way of recycling of such materials is briquetting followed by reuse of the material in the blast furnace. In the briquetting process, an important step is the choice of the binder suitable for manufacturing the briquettes with suitable mechanical properties. In this work, the effect of the binder choice (laundry starch UNIPRET, Portland cement) on the reduction of iron oxides in the assessed waste materials during thermal treatment (900, 1000, 1100 °C) is evaluated. Simultaneously, the effect of the binder choice on the amount and composition of the resulting waste gas was evaluated as well as its possible impact on the environment. The performed experiments proved the mutual relationship between the level of iron oxides to metal iron conversion, the binder content and retention temperature. Type of binder also affected the volume of the resulting waste gas. Factor analysis for mixed data (FAMD) proved that the resulting concentrations of the assessed hydrocarbons were correlated (apart from ethyne) and that they are closely associated with the binder applied. Conversely, the concentrations of ethyne, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide were not associated with the binder but with the retention temperature. FAMD did not show any direct effect of final retention temperature on the amount of the rest of the resulting hydrocarbons. In comparison with the starch-containing briquettes, the cement-containing briquettes were also proved to lead to lower resulting concentrations of PAHs in the waste gas.

Magnetic Domain Patterns in Bilayered Ribbons Studied by Magnetic Force Microscopy and Magneto-Optical Kerr Microscopy.

The magnetic domain patterns of amorphous bilayered FeSiB/FeNbSiB and FeNbCuSiB/CoSiB ribbons are observed and analysed using the magneto-optical Kerr microscopy (MOKM) and magnetic force microscopy (MFM). Both microscopic techniques are highly sensitive to the sample surface; possibility of Kerr microscopy to visualize the domains separately in both layers is achieved by focusing the laser spot on the ribbon cross section. Wide curved domains as well as fine fingerprint domains were detected at the surface of ribbons due to presence of local stresses coming from the preparation process. With respect to high lateral resolution of MFM and its out-of-plane magnetization sensitivity, the perpendicularly magnetized crossed stripe domain patterns can be selected as well. Coiling of the ribbons on the half-round-end sample holder is often used to induce and control the magnetic anisotropy of these alloys. Changes in the magnetic domain structure at the outer-coiled surface and its dependence on the sign of magnetostriction coefficient are discussed in detail. Finally, the MFM images in the presence of external in-plane magnetic field up to ±40 kA/m are shown.

Recycling of blast furnace sludge by briquetting with starch binder: Waste gas from thermal treatment utilizable as a fuel.

Steel plants generate significant amounts of wastes such as sludge, slag, and dust. Blast furnace sludge is a fine-grained waste characterized as hazardous and affecting the environment negatively. Briquetting is one of the possible ways of recycling of this waste while the formed briquettes serve as a feed material to the blast furnace. Several binders, both organic and inorganic, had been assessed, however, only the solid product had been analysed. The aim of this study was to assess the possibilities of briquetting using commonly available laundry starch as a binder while evaluating the possible utilization of the waste gas originating from the thermal treatment of the briquettes. Briquettes (100g) were formed with the admixture of starch (UNIPRET) and their mechanical properties were analysed. Consequently, they were subjected to thermal treatment of 900, 1000 and 1100°C with retention period of 40min during which was the waste gas collected and its content analysed using gas chromatography. Dependency of the concentration of the compounds forming the waste gas on the temperature used was determined using Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation matrix. Starch was found to be a very good binder and reduction agent, it was confirmed that metallic iron was formed during the thermal treatment. Approximately 20l of waste gas was obtained from the treatment of one briquette; main compounds were methane and hydrogen rendering the waste gas utilizable as a fuel while the greatest yield was during the lowest temperatures. Preparation of blast furnace sludge briquettes using starch as a binder and their thermal treatment represents a suitable method for recycling of this type of metallurgical waste. Moreover, the composition of the resulting gas is favourable for its use as a fuel.