A novel capacitor devicewith a high, frequency‐independent dielectric constant has been fabricated by a simple powder processing route. A mixture of microparticles of ferroelectric BaTiO3 and de‐passivated metallic nickel was sintered to yield percolative composites in which the system of conducting particles separated by insulator layers (see Figure for an SEM image) exhibits a dielectric constant higher than that of either component.

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The objective of this work is to develop bioactive glass coatings for metallic

The spontaneous spreading of small liquid metal (Cu, Ag, Au) and oxide drops on Mo substrates has been studied using a drop transfer setup combined with high-speed video. Under the experimental conditions used in this work, spreading occurs in the absence of interfacial reactions or ridging. The analysis of the spreading data indicates that dissipation at the triple junction (that can be described in terms of a triple-line friction) is playing a dominant role in the movement of the liquid front. This is due, in part, to the much stronger atomic interactions in high-temperature systems when compared to organic liquids. As a result of this analysis, a comprehensive view of spreading emerges in which the strength of the atomic interactions (solid-liquid, liquid-liquid) determines the relative roles of viscous impedance and dissipation at the triple junction in spreading kinetics.

In the present work, the processing and characterization of electroconductive Alumina-TiC-Ni nanocomposites obtained by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) are described. These nanocomposites are singular due to the excellent mechanical properties they present (particular regarding Vickers hardness, 25.6 AE 0.7 GPa), as well as their extremely good wear behaviour, studied under ''ball-on-disk'' dry sliding conditions. The wear rate obtained was 25 times (almost 1.5 orders of magnitude) smaller than the value obtained for a monolithic alumina sintered under the same conditions. Flexural strength had been improved up to 75% with respect to the monolithic alumina processed under the same conditions. As these nanocomposites can be machined by electroerosion (EDM), they can adopt any shape for devices requiring a good mechanical performance and low wear rates.

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Monolithic zirconia-nickel (ZrO 2 /Ni) cermets have been prepared by a wet-processing method with nickel volume concentrations of 16%-40%. Microstructural analysis performed on scanning electron microscopy images has revealed evidence of a partial ordering of metallic particles inside the ceramic matrix. This ordering does not appear in mullite/molybdenum cermets. Complex impedance measurements have shown that the percolation threshold of ZrO 2 /Ni cermets appears at a filling factor (f c ) of 0.34, exceeding the theoretical value (f c ‫؍‬ 0.16), as a consequence of its microstructural order. Electrical measurements display the expected increase of capacity near the percolation threshold. These results open the possibility to design new devices with the appealing electric, magnetic, and mechanical properties that are predicted by the percolation theory.

Silver-hydroxyapatite nanocomposites as bactericide and fungicide materials Silver-hydroxyapatite nanocomposites containing 1 wt% of metallic silver have been obtained by a colloidal chemical route and subsequent chemical reduction process. The silver nanoparticles are supported onto the HA surface without a high degree of agglomeration. The bactericidal effect against common Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria, as well as antifungal activity against yeast have been investigated. The results indicated a high antimicrobial activity for E. coli, M. Luteus and I. Orientalis, so this material can be a promising antimicrobial biomaterial for implant and reconstructive surgery, among other applications.