For the continuous monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of neural tissue, implantable
probes are required. However, sometimes such neural probes (usually composed of
silicon) become encapsulated with non-conductive, undesirable glial scar tissue.
Similarly for orthopaedic implants, biomaterials (usually titanium and/or titanium
alloys) often become encapsulated with undesirable soft fibrous, not hard bony,
tissue. Although possessing intriguing electrical and mechanical properties for
neural and orthopaedic applications, carbon nanofibres/nanotubes have not been widely
considered for these applications to date. The present work developed a carbon
nanofibre reinforced polycarbonate urethane (PU) composite in an attempt to determine
the possibility of using carbon nanofibres (CNs) as either neural or orthopaedic
prosthetic devices. Electrical and mechanical characterization studies determined
that such composites have properties suitable for neural and orthopaedic
applications. More importantly, cell adhesion experiments revealed for the first time
the promise these materials have to increase neural (nerve cell) and osteoblast
(bone-forming cell) functions. In contrast, functions of cells that contribute to
glial scar-tissue formation for neural prostheses (astrocytes) and fibrous-tissue
encapsulation events for bone implants (fibroblasts) decreased on PU composites
containing increasing amounts of CNs. In this manner, this study provided the first
evidence of the future that CN formulations may have towards interacting with neural
and bone cells which is important for the design of successful neural probes and
orthopaedic implants, respectively.
OverviewEditor's Note: A hypertext-enhanced version of this article can be found on the TMS web site at http://www.tms.org/ pubs/journals/JOM/9711/Ejiofor-9711.html.In the past ten years, materials R&D has shifted from monolithic to composite materials, adjusting to the global need for reduced weight, low cost, quality, and high performance in structural materials. This article reviews developments in the molten processing of particulate Al-Si alloy composites and their respective properties. Existing and emerging processing innovations are discussed, and the reinforcement phases in prominent R&D activities are identified. The vortex (or mixing) method continues to be the most popular processing method in use because of its ease of operation, total production cost, and suitability, while the infiltration, compocasting (or rheocasting), in-situ, and spray atomization and codeposition techniques receive less attention.
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