Introduction of metals as biomaterials has been known for a long time. In the early development, sufficient strength and suitable mechanical properties were the main considerations for metal implants. With the development of new generations of biomaterials, the concepts of bioactive and biodegradable materials were proposed. Biological function design is very import for metal implants in biomedical applications. Three crucial design criteria are summarized for developing metal implants: (1) mechanical properties that mimic the host tissues; (2) sufficient bioactivities to form bio-bonding between implants and surrounding tissues; and (3) a degradation rate that matches tissue regeneration and biodegradability. This article reviews the development of metal implants and their applications in biomedical engineering. Development trends and future perspectives of metallic biomaterials are also discussed.
The study of gas–metal arc welding (GMAW) often relies on the hypothesis of local thermodynamical equilibrium (LTE). Few works are dedicated to its validation and none is focused on the case of pulsed metal active gas welding. This paper presents the result of a spectroscopic diagnostic performed on a pulsed welding arc with 82%Ar–18%CO2 shielding gas. High-speed imaging and electrical data recording are also performed. The excitation temperature is obtained with the Boltzmann plot method, while iron and argon line Stark broadening measurement is used to obtain the electron temperature and density. The iron mole fraction in the plasma is calculated by solving the conservation equations. Partial LTE hypothesis validity across the arc is discussed considering the agreement between the two temperatures, electron density and iron content. The results show supporting evidence for the main part of the plasma, along radial and axial directions. This can be associated with high iron vapour concentration, close to 100% near the consumable anode tip. Discrepancies occur only at the fringe of the arc, where the two temperatures differ by more than 2000 K. The temperature drop close to the arc axis observable for the upper part is weaker when compared with an inert gas welding operation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.