Processing and Properties of Zirconia-Toughened Alumina Prepared by Gelcasting.

Zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) using yttria-stabilised zirconia is a good option for ceramic-ceramic bearing couples for hip joint replacement. Gelcasting is a colloidal processing technique capable of producing complex products with a range of dimensions and materials by a relatively low-cost production process. Using gelcasting, ZTA samples were prepared, optimising the stages of fabrication, including slurry preparation with varying solid loadings, moulding and de-moulding, drying and sintering.

Physical and mechanical characterisation of 3D-printed porous titanium for biomedical applications.

The elastic modulus of metallic orthopaedic implants is typically 6-12 times greater than cortical bone, causing stress shielding: over time, bone atrophies through decreased mechanical strain, which can lead to fracture at the implantation site. Introducing pores into an implant will lower the modulus significantly. Three dimensional printing (3DP) is capable of producing parts with dual porosity features: micropores by process (residual pores from binder burnout) and macropores by design via a computer aided design model.

Template free electrochemical deposition of ZnSb nanotubes for Li ion battery anodes.

ZnSb nanotubes were grown through a template free electrodeposition method under over-potential conditions. The growth of the nanotubes was attributed to the template effect from H(2) bubbles. Due to their hollow structure, the ZnSb nanotubes depicted better Li ion storage performance compared to that of ZnSb nanoparticles deposited under different conditions.