Improvement of Mechanical and Biological Properties of PLA/HNT Scaffolds Fabricated by Foam Injection Molding: Skin Layer Effect and Laser Texturing

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 564-576
Author(s):  
M. Eryildiz ◽  
M. Altan ◽  
S. Odabas

Abstract Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the important materials for orthopedic regenerative engineering applications due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. Nonetheless, PLA may show insufficient mechanical strength for some bone replacement applications. Halloysite nanotube (HNT) is one of the non-toxic, biocompatible reinforcement for improving mechanical and biological properties of PLA for tissue engineering applications. In this study, PLA/HNT scaffolds were prepared by chemical foam injection molding process. Laser surface texturing was applied on the skin layer of the injection molded scaffolds to enhance the cell viability and hydrophilicity of PLA. The effects of HNT concentration on cell morphology, mechanical and thermal properties, cell viability and biodegradation profile of the scaffolds were studied. The results demonstrated that cell viability increased by 43% in PLA/HNT scaffolds compared to neat PLA. Hydrophilicity of the scaffolds that have thick skin layer was enhanced by the laser surface texturing in two different designs and consequently, cell viability increased about 16%. Surface roughness measurements and water contact angle measurements have verified this result.

Friction ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Boidi ◽  
P. G. Grützmacher ◽  
A. Kadiric ◽  
F. J. Profito ◽  
I. F. Machado ◽  
...  

AbstractTextured surfaces offer the potential to promote friction and wear reduction by increasing the hydrodynamic pressure, fluid uptake, or acting as oil or debris reservoirs. However, texturing techniques often require additional manufacturing steps and costs, thus frequently being not economically feasible for real engineering applications. This experimental study aims at applying a fast laser texturing technique on curved surfaces for obtaining superior tribological performances. A femtosecond pulsed laser (Ti:Sapphire) and direct laser interference patterning (with a solid-state Nd:YAG laser) were used for manufacturing dimple and groove patterns on curved steel surfaces (ball samples). Tribological tests were carried out under elasto-hydrodynamic lubricated contact conditions varying slide-roll ratio using a ball-on-disk configuration. Furthermore, a specific interferometry technique for rough surfaces was used to measure the film thickness of smooth and textured surfaces. Smooth steel samples were used to obtain data for the reference surface. The results showed that dimples promoted friction reduction (up to 20%) compared to the reference smooth specimens, whereas grooves generally caused less beneficial or detrimental effects. In addition, dimples promoted the formation of full film lubrication conditions at lower speeds. This study demonstrates how fast texturing techniques could potentially be used for improving the tribological performance of bearings as well as other mechanical components utilised in several engineering applications.


Friction ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Jui Hsu ◽  
Andreas Stratmann ◽  
Simon Medina ◽  
Georg Jacobs ◽  
Frank Mücklich ◽  
...  

AbstractLaser surface texturing (LST) has been proven to improve the tribological performance of machine elements. The micro-scale patterns manufactured by LST may act as lubricant reservoirs, thus supplying oil when encountering insufficient lubrication. However, not many studies have investigated the use of LST in the boundary lubrication regime, likely due to concerns of higher contact stresses that can occur with the increasing surface roughness. This study aims to examine the influence of LST on the fatigue lifetime of thrust rolling bearings under boundary lubrication. A series of periodic patterns were produced on the thrust rolling bearings, using two geometrically different designs, namely cross and dimple patterns. Base oil ISO VG 100 mixed with 0.05 wt% P of zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) was supplied. The bearings with cross patterns reduce the wear loss by two orders of magnitude. The patterns not only retain lubricant in the textured pockets but also enhance the formation of an anti-wear tribofilm. The tribofilm generation may be improved by the higher contact stresses that occur when using the textured surface. Therefore, in contrast to the negative concerns, the ball bearings with cross patterns were instead found to increase the fatigue life by a factor of three.


2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuwen Wang ◽  
Feiyan Yan ◽  
Ao Chen

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the tribological effects of laser surface texturing (LST) and residual stress on functional surfaces. Design/methodology/approach Three different surface textures (circular dimple, elliptical dimple and groove) with two different textured area ratios (10 and 20 per cent) are designed and fabricated by a Picosecond Nd YAG Laser machine. The friction and wear performance of textured specimens is tested using a UMT-2 friction and wear testing machine in mixed lubrication. Findings Test results show that elliptical dimples exhibit the best performance in wear resistance, circular dimples in friction reduction and grooves in stabilization of friction. The surfaces with larger textured area density exhibit better performance in both friction reduction and wear resistance. The improved performance of LST is the coupled effect of surface texture and residual stress. Originality/value The findings of this study may provide guidance for optimal design of functional surface textures in reciprocating sliding contacts under mixed or hydrodynamic lubrication, which can be used in automotive and other industrial applications.


Author(s):  
Tiffany Davis ◽  
Jian Cao ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
Q. Jane Wang ◽  
Cedric Xia ◽  
...  

Surface texturing has become a valuable technique for reducing friction and wear in contacting parts; laser surface texturing is one such method used to create micro-dimples on the interface surface. This work investigates the surface material property variation caused by laser surface texturing. The hardness and modulus of elasticity of a steel laser surface texture sample were evaluated near the dimples and away from the dimpled zone through nano-indentation. Resulting data shows that no significant difference exists between the material properties from the two positions. An alternate technique for surface texture generation was also explored, involving the use of micro-punches to create surface features in a metal sample. Computational simulations were performed using a second material underneath a thin copper sheet. The second material was present to serve as a support and to allow extensive deformation of the top material. The choice of the support material and ratio of material thicknesses was optimized to minimize pile up. Trials were conducted for three base supporting materials: PTFE, PMMA, and aluminum. Results show that PMMA performed better than the other materials. Positive deflection was minimized when the PMMA thickness was at least fifteen times that of the copper sheet. Physical experiments were completed with a thin copper sheet to verify the results. An array of micro-indentations was also created in a bulk steel sample. In order to assess the effect of dimpling via micro-forming, nano-indentation was performed near and far from the deformed material of the dimples. Similar to the laser textured sample, no significant differences were found between the two locations.


2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawit Zenebe Segu ◽  
Pyung Hwang

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate and discuss the effect of multi-shape laser surface texturing (LST) steel surfaces on tribological performance. Design/methodology/approach – The textured surface with some specific formula arrays was fabricated by laser ablation process by combining patterns of circles and triangles, circles and squares and circles and ellipses. The tribological test was performed by a flat-on-flat tribometer under dry and lubrication conditions, and results were compared with that of untextured surface. Findings – The results showed that the textured surface had better friction coefficient performance than the untextured surface due to hydrodynamic lubrication effect. Through an increase in sliding speed, the beneficial effect of LST performance was achieved under dry and lubrication conditions. Originality/value – This paper develops multi-shape LST steel surfaces for improving the friction and wear performance under dry and lubrication conditions.


Author(s):  
Venkata Sai Prabhu Suraj Nanduru ◽  
Nagalla Siva Ramakrishna ◽  
Ramineni Surendra Babu ◽  
P. Dinesh Babu ◽  
P. Marimuthu ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document