New and used polypropylene tailstrings from the Copper 7 (Cu-7) intrauterine device were examined by a combination of analytical techniques. Optical microscopy, scanning acoustic and electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, and chemical etching were employed to elucidate both the surface and interior morphology of new Cu-7 tailstrings. Tailstrings removed from women following varying periods of use were investigated with optical microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, a subset of the used tailstrings were cultured to identify the types of microorganisms associated with them. Our findings show that unused Cu-7 tailstrings are in various stages of degradation owing to a combination of factors which include the high-draw ratio employed during manufacturing, the method of packaging, and the use of a particulate colourant. Furthermore, it is evident that used Cu-7 tailstrings undergo major deterioration while in situ because of the unfavorable interactions between the highly drawn polypropylene and the physiological environment. These results indicate that the polypropylene tailstrings as manufactured for use with the Cu-7 IUD fail to meet accepted design criteria for biomedical implants.
Mechanical milling (MM) is one of severe plastic deformation process which enables to introduce very high strain into materials. Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) ables to fabricate sintered compacts in a short period of time, under low pressure as well as at low temperature due to its powder surface activating effect. Combining these two processes, the MM/SPS process is applied to the powders of SUS316L, Ti and graphite. The powder was sintered by spark plasma sintering (SPS) for 3.6ks at 1376K. As the result of it, a spherical TiC containing Mo was formed, fine TiC of the size; 150nm was obtained.It was confirmed that these fine TiC restrains the grain growth. The compressive strength of the sintered MM powder is much higher than that of the sintered MM powder without Ti, C.
In the design of concrete pavement, curling stresses caused by the temperature difference between the top and bottom surfaces of the slab should be calculated at the transverse joint edge in some cases. However, no such equation has been developed in the past. Accordingly, a curling stress equation was developed based on stress analysis using the finite-element method (FEM). In this FEM analysis, a concrete pavement and its transverse joint were expressed by means of a thin plate–Winkler foundation model and a spring joint model, respectively. Multiregression analysis was applied to the results of the FEM numerical calculation and, consequently, a curling stress equation was obtained. After comparing the calculated results of the equation with curling stress equations developed in the past, it was confirmed that the equation was valid and practical.
In the design of concrete pavement, curling stresses caused by the temperature difference between the top and bottom surfaces of the slab should be calculated at the transverse joint edge in some cases. However, no such equation has been developed in the past. Accordingly, a curling stress equation was developed based on stress analysis using the finite-element method (FEM). In this FEM analysis, a concrete pavement and its transverse joint were expressed by means of a thin plate-Winkler foundation model and a spring joint model, respectively. Multiregression analysis was applied to the results of the FEM numerical calculation and, consequently, a curling stress equation was obtained. After comparing the calculated results of the equation with curling stress equations developed in the past, it was confirmed that the equation was valid and practical.
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