Preparation of diamond/aluminum composite with titanium coating on diamond powder by microwave technology

In this research, the diamond particles were coated with titanium by microwave heating method, then the Ti-coated diamond particles were used as raw material to fabricate the diamond/Al composites by microwave sintering. The result shows that the diamond particles could be covered with a uniform and continuous Ti coating under microwave irradiation, and the best Ti coating was obtained at 810 °C for 1 h. The metallic bond between diamond and Ti was formed to generate the intermediate transition layer of TiC. The diamond/Al composites which used Ti-coated diamond particles as raw material and were fabricated by microwave sintering show high relative density and hardness. The relative density and hardness of the diamond/Al composites increased with the temperature. While the composites were sintered at 710 °C for 1 h, the density could reach 2.855 g·cm−3, and relative density was 92.09%, which shows better microstructures and properties. There is Al3Ti alloy phase in Ti-coated diamond/Al composites, so the Ti-coated diamond can be well combined with the Al matrix, which can further improve the properties of the composites.

Novel microwave surgical instrument for use in various lung resection situations

A novel surgical energy device with high sealing ability using microwave technology has been developed. This novel microwave surgical instrument (MSI) is capable of sealing and dissecting a vessel ≤ 5 mm in diameter. The high sealing ability of the MSI enables fine dissection of the lung parenchyma by a scissor-type blade. This device is particularly useful in situations wherein the use of an automatic suturing instrument is difficult. Here, we describe the dissection of the lung parenchyma using this device in three patients (cases 1–3). This device was used for wedge resection of a tumor located close to the pulmonary hilum, for subsegmentectomy, and for dividing incomplete interlobar fissure (cases 1–3, respectively). In all the cases, the postoperative course was uneventful. This MSI is effective for resection of the lung parenchyma, allowing fine tissue dissection and excellent tissue sealing. This technique could assist surgeons in various lung resection cases.

Microwave technology: a novel approach to the transformation of natural metabolites

Microwave technology is used throughout the world to generate heat using energy from the microwave range of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is characterized by uniform energy transfer, low energy consumption, and rapid heating which preserves much of the nutritional value in food products. Microwave technology is widely used to process food such as drying, because food and medicinal plants are the same organisms. Microwave technology is also used to process and extract parts of plants for medicinal purposes; however, the special principle of microwave radiation provide energy to reaction for transforming chemical components, creating a variety of compounds through oxidation, hydrolysis, rearrangement, esterification, condensation and other reactions that transform original components into new ones. In this paper, the principles, influencing factors of microwave technology, and the transformation of natural metabolites using microwave technology are reviewed, with an aim to provide a theoretical basis for the further study of microwave technology in the processing of medicinal materials.