Winners of the 4th IoM (E.Asia) Materialography Competition
Title: Care for a small snack
Author: Rajendra Kumar
Affiliation: NTU/SME/AMRC PhD Student
Description: RF suspension plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite particle
Title: Corals can grow on Titanium: What a Surprise!
Author: ChangXiang Wang and Min Wang
Affiliation: NTU/MPE
Description: It is generally thought that metallic materials are non-bioactive and hence cannot form a secure bond between metal implants and host tissues after their implantation in the body. Recent research has found that after certain treatments, some metals can become bioactive by forming a bone-like apatite layer on their surfaces. In the present investigation, pure titanium, which is a common implant material, was firstly treated in a NaOH solution and then immersed at 36.50C in a simulation body fluid. After several days' immersion, bone-like apatite was found formed on the metal suface. The morphology of bone-like apatite resembles that of corals grown in deep seas.
Title: Apatite Nucleation
Author: Thian Eng San, Loh Ngiap Hiang, Khor Khiam Aik, Tor Shu Beng
Affiliation: NTU/MPE
Description: Sintered titanium alloy-hydroxyapatite (Ti-6AI-4V/HA) composites produced by powder injection moulding and immersed for 10 weeks in simulated body fluids (SBF). Precipitation of calcium phosphate crystals on the surface were seen, indicating that bioactivity had taken place.