Silver‐doped hydroxyapatite (AgHAp) was prepared by co‐precipitation method at room temperature. The obtained AgHAp was added in different amounts of collagen gel (AgHApC1 and AgHApC2). Afterward, the gel was lyophilized and the final AgHApC1 and AgHApC2 composite was achieved. The purity, crystallinity, and the phase composition of the AgHAp, AgHApC1, and AgHApC2 samples were evaluated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The planes corresponding to the 2θ values for hydroxyapatite were found in the three samples analyzed in agreement with the crystalline hydroxyapatite. In the Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectra of AgHApC1 and AgHApC2 samples the peak characteristic to the presence of ν2 phosphate mode at 472/cm was found. The peaks resulting from the ν4 vibration of the P–O mode, ν1 symmetric P–O stretching vibration and ν3 P–O stretching vibration of PO43− were also evidenced in all the samples. The formation of agglomerated particles with uniform particle size was evidenced by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The uniform distribution of the constituent elements was evidenced by mapping analysis. Furthermore, the strong antibacterial activity of AgHAp, AgHApC1, and AgHApC2 samples against Gram‐negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram‐positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacterial strains was shown. The inhibition zone increased drastically with the increase of silver concentration. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:537–545, 2017. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers

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The present study focusses on the experimental and analytical investigation of unbalanced Boron/Epoxy-Aluminum 2024 T3 single lap joints subjected to tensile loading, after being exposed to a corrosive environment (salt spray chamber) in order to study its effects on their strength and failure. FM94, high strength adhesive, was used for bonding. Different overlap lengths have been tested and an extensive experimental analysis has been executed. A geometrically nonlinear, two-dimensional finite element analysis has been employed to determine the hydrostatic stress and the shear strain distribution across the two interfaces of the single-lap joints, for four different overlap lengths. The results mainly prove that the overlap length and the aging conditions directly affect the joint tensile strength, while an optimum value of the overlap length can be defined. The maximum shear and normal stresses are found to increase as the overlap length increases, but the lap shear strength is not proportional to the overlap length. A good agreement between finite element results and experimental findings was found.

The paper shows the importance of designing an ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) plastic part which will be produced using FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) technology; it is obtained a product with the same characteristics provided by the operating guide book. Thus, this solution combines both the capacity of the designer as well as the applied technology and can produce similar or improved plastic components, at the same time maintaining the functional characteristics of the work piece. This paper is a plea for the application of 3D printing using FDM technology for manufacturing components (spare parts) out of production, because the technological systems users no longer have other solutions available for replacing outworn plastic parts. 3D printing using FDM technology is a fast option for replacing outworn components, the modeling, simulation and printing time being shorter than the purchase time of a new subassembly or assembly that has been remanufactured and modernized.

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