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In this paper, continuous carbon fiber reinforced alumina matrix (C/Al2O3) composites were fabricated through the “sol infiltration-drying-heat treatment” route. In the composites, nano aluminum sol with high solid content was elected as raw material. Similarly, carbon fiber cloth preform with a laminated-stitched structure was chosen for reinforcement. The preparation process and high-temperature failure behavior of the composites under an inert atmosphere were studied emphatically. The results showed that the porosity of C/Al2O3 composites prepared by 28 cycles was 16.6%, and the three-point bending strength was 208.5 MPa at room temperature. The fracture toughness of composites was 8.1 MPa · m1/2, which was 102.5% higher than that of alumina ceramic. After 1 h high-temperature test at 1400 °C and 1600 °C under Ar, the strength retention rate of C/Al2O3 composites was 84.4% and 73.0%, respectively. SEM indicated the thermal mismatch between matrix and fibers contributed to the reduction in mechanical properties of C/Al2O3 composites.

3D carbon fiber needled felt and polycarbosilane-derived SiC coating were selected as reinforcement and interfacial coating, respectively, and the sol−impregnation−drying−heating (SIDH) route was used to fabricate C/Al2O3 composites. The effects of SiC interfacial coating on the mechanical properties, oxidation resistance and thermal shock resistance of C/Al2O3 composites were investigated. It is found that the fracture toughness of C/Al2O3 composites was remarkably superior to that of monolithic Al2O3 ceramics. The introduction of SiC interfacial coating obviously improved the strengths of C/Al2O3 composites although the fracture work diminished to some extent. Owing to the tight bonding between SiC coating and carbon fiber, the C/SiC/Al2O3 composites showed much better oxidation and thermal shock resistance over C/Al2O3 composites under static air.

To prepare the three-dimensional braided carbon fiber reinforced mullite (3D C/mullite) composites, an Al2O3-SiO2 sol with a solid content of 20% (mass fraction) and an Al2O3/SiO2 mass ratio of 2:1 was selected as the raw material. Characteristics and mullitization of the sol were analyzed throughly. It is found that the formation of mullite is basically completed at 1300 °C and the gel powders exhibit favorable sintering shrinkage. The 3D C/mullite composites without interfacial coating were fabricated through the route of vacuum impregnation-drying-heat treatment. Satisfied mechanical properties with a flexural strength of 241.2 MPa and a fracture toughness of 10.9 MPa·m1/2 are obtained although the total porosity reaches 26.0%. Oxidation resistances of the composites at 1200, 1400 and 1600 °C were investigated. Due to the further densification of matrix, the 3D C/mullite composites show tiny mass loss and their mechanical properties are well retained after oxidation at 1600 °C for 30 min.

Yttrium silicate (Y 2 Si 2 O 7 ) coating was fabricated on C/SiC composites through dip-coating with silicone resin + Y 2 O 3 powder slurry as raw materials. The synthesis, microstructure and oxidation resistance and the anti-oxidation mechanism of Y 2 Si 2 O 7 coating were in–estigated. Y 2 Si 2 O 7 can be synthesized by the pyrolysis of Y 2 O 3 powder filled silicone resin at mass ratio of 54.2:45.8 and 800 °C in air and then heat treated at 1400 °C under Ar. The as-fabricated coating shows high density and fa–orable bonding to C/SiC composites. After oxidation in air at 1400, 1500 and 1600 °C for 30 min, the coating-containing composites possess 130%–140% of original flexural strength. The desirable thermal stability and the further densification of coating during oxidation are responsible for the excellent oxidation resistance. In addition, the formation of eutectic Y–Si–Al–O glassy phase between Y 2 Si 2 O 7 and Al 2 O 3 sample bracket at 1500 °C is disco–ered.

Mullite matrix composites with laminated and stitched carbon fiber cloth preform as reinforcement were fabricated via the route of “infiltration-drying-heat treatment” using Al2O3-SiO2 sol as raw materials. Thermal properties from room temperature to 1673K of the composites were investigated. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) increases first and then decreases, and reaches a maximum of 4.83×10-6K-1 at 1273K. As a result of the further sintering of matrix, the CTE is negative at above 1300°C. The specific heat capacity increases to the maximum of 1.547J·g-1·K-1 at 1473K and remains stable at above 1473K, with a minimum of 0.756J·g-1·K-1 at room temperature. The thermal diffusivity decreases from 1.1mm2·s-1 at room temperature to 0.707 mm2·s-1 at 973K as the temperature was elevated, and remains stable at above 973K. On the contrary, the thermal conductivity is improved with increasing temperature on the whole and varies from 1.859W·m-1·K-1 at room temperature to 2.325W·m-1·K-1 at 1473K.

To protect carbon fiber-reinforced SiC (C/SiC) composites against oxidation,mullite coating was prepared on C/SiC composites by dip-coating method with high solid content Al2O3-SiO2 sol as raw materials. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were employed to analyze the phase and microstructure of the coating. The results show that the as-prepared coating is SiO2-rich, monolithic and well bonded with substrate without penetrating crack, giving rise to good oxidation-resistance. After soaked at 1400°C for 30min under static air, the coated C/SiC composites possess 87% of original flexural strength. As a result of sealing and filling of cracks and pores by viscous SiO2 in coating, the coated C/SiC composites exhibit improved oxidation resistance at 1500°C and 1600°C. There is no change in flexural strength after oxidized at 1500°C and 1600°C for 30min, respectively. Nevertheless, the carbothermal reduction between viscous SiO2 and free carbon in C/SiC substrate would occur obviously when oxidation temperature was elevated or oxidation time was prolonged, leading to local foaming in coating and decreasing in oxidation resistance.

In order to efficiently fabricate dense three-dimensional carbon fiber reinforced mullite matrix composites (3D C/mullite), two kinds of Al2O3-SiO2sols with high solid content were used as raw materials. The ceramic yield and mullitization behavior of the sols and the densification process were investigated. It is indicated that the two sols have proper solid content and ceramic yield and can be completely transformed into mullite at 1573K, which make them be able to prepare composites. 3D C/mullite composites with a porosity of ∼25% were prepared by repeating less than 20 cycles of infiltration-drying-heating of sols, and the microstructures and mechanical properties were examined. The results suggest that the sol with smaller particle size derived composites exhibit well-sintered dense matrix and physically stronger interfacial bonding, which are beneficial to improve load-bearing and load-transferring capacity of matrix. As a result, this composites show much higher mechanical properties. The flexural strength and modulus are 2.4 times and 1.3 times as those of the sol with larger particle size derived composites, respectively.

Many hydropower stations in southwest China are located in regions of brittle rock mass with high geo-stresses. Under these conditions deep fractured zones often occur in the sidewalls of the underground caverns of a power station. The theory and methods of fracture and damage mechanics are therefore adopted to study the phenomena. First a flexibility matrix is developed to describe initial geometric imperfections of a jointed rock mass. This model takes into account the area and orientation of the fractured surfaces of multiple joint sets, as well as spacing and density of joints. Using the assumption of the equivalent strain principle, a damage constitutive model is established based on the brittle fracture criterion. In addition the theory of fracture mechanics is applied to analyze the occurrence of secondary cracks during a cavern excavation. The failure criterion, for rock bridge coalescence and the damage evolution equation, has been derived and a new sub-program integrated into the FLAC-3D software. The model has then been applied to the stability analysis of an underground cavern group of a hydropower station in Sichuan province, China. The results of this method are compared with those obtained by using a conventional elasto-plastic model and splitting depth calculated by the splitting failure criterion proposed in a previous study. The results are also compared with the depth of the relaxation and fracture zone in the surrounding rock measured by field monitoring. The distribution of the splitting zone obtained both by the proposed model and by the field monitoring measurements are consistent to the validity of the theory developed herein.

Mesoporous and macroporous mullite ceramics were fabricated from pyrolysis of alumina nanopowders filled silicone resin. The effect of pore-forming agent (carbon nanopowders) on the pore structure and mechanical property of the porous mullite ceramics were investigated. By varying the carbon content, the porosity and flexural strength of the obtained ceramics could be easily tuned. Both of the open porosity and average pore size of the obtained samples increased at elevated carbon content, and reached the maximum value of 61.0%, 225.5 nm respectively when the carbon content got the highest point (40 Vol.%). The flexural strength of nanoporous mullite ceramics changed almost with an opposite trend of open porosity, with the biggest value of 36 MPa when 10 Vol.% carbon was adopted. The microstructure of porous mullite ceramics consists of dense region and loose region when the added carbon content was at relatively low level. However, the dense area gradually disappeared with the increasing of carbon content.

Nanoporous carbonaceous materials derived from polysiloxane were first prepared by pyrolysis at 1300°C followed with hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching treatment. Their thermal stability of pore structure in inert condition was investigated in this paper by nitrogen adsorption technique in detail. The specific surface area (SSA) and pore volume (total pore volume, micropore volume, mesopore volume) decreased continually in the heat-treatment temperature range of 1000~1400°C. The average pore size almost kept the same with the raw sample. However, when the temperature exceeded 1400°C, the micropore interconnection began transforming to mesopore structure, which led to the decline of SSA and the increase of average pore size. Furthermore, the pore size distributions (PSDs) curves showed that heat-treatment had an advantage on the transition process of pore structure from disorder to regularity to some extent when heat-treated in the range 1000~1400°C for the most possible reason of relief of residue strain in the carbonaceous materials.

Three-dimensional carbon fiber reinforced mullite composites (3D-Cf/mullite) were fabricated by sol-gel method with diphasic mullite sol as raw materials. SiC interfacial coatings were deposited by polycarbosilane infiltration and pyrolysis before sol-gel process. The as-fabricated composites showed 285.7MPa in flexural strength, relatively close to 277.6MPa of those without coatings. After treated at 1300°C and 1500°C in Ar atmosphere for 1h, the retention rates of flexural strength were 80.0% and 69.9%, respectively, which showed a great improvement compared to the composites without coatings. This was attributed to the prevention of carbothermal reduction between carbon fiber and matrix by SiC coatings.

The aim of this work was to investigate the MRI findings on tumor xenografts induced in nude mice by the inoculation of human pancreatic cancer cells labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO), and to monitor the kinetics of SPIO distribution in tumor xenografts. The labeled cancer cells were subcutaneously inoculated into 11 nude mice to induce tumor xenograft. The unlabeled cancer cells served as a control inoculated into nine nude mice. MR imaging was performed with a 1.5 T MR scanner for the tumor xenograft at the first, second and third week after the inoculation. We found that the tumor xenograft was induced in 100% nude mice on MR imaging for both groups in the first week after the inoculation. In the SPIO group, the tumors showed homogeneous hypointensity on T1- and T2-weighted and FIESTA images 1 week after inoculation. Two and 3 weeks after inoculation, the center of the tumors was still hypointense on all the above sequences. The tumor periphery was isointense on T1-weighted, and hyperintense on T2-weighted and FIESTA images. The tumors in control group were homogeneously hypointense or isointense on T1-weighted, and hyperintense on T2-weighted and FIESTA images in the first, second and third week after the inoculation. The size and signal-to-noise ratio of the tumor center in the SPIO group had decreased subsequent to the inoculation in all T1- and T2-weighted images and FIESTA. Our results showed the human pancreatic cancer cells labeled with SPIO can induce tumor xenograft in nude mice and MRI can monitor the kinetics of SPIO distribution in tumor xenografts. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide composites (Cf/SiC) were derived through precursor infiltration pyrolysis route (PIP) at 1600°C in vacuum atmosphere using polysiloxane as precursor. The matrix of Cf/SiC was characterized by X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis. The results show that crystalline β-SiC can be derived at 1600°C in vacuum from polysiloxane. The flexural strength and fracture toughness of polysiloxane derived from Cf/SiC can reach up to 70 MPa and 2.3MPa·m respectively1/2.

A damage constitutive model was established to evaluate the stability of jointed rock masses around the underground caverns of Shuangjiangkou Hydropower Station. In this model, a second-order damage tensor was formulated to describe the initial geometric imperfection of jointed rock masses. A failure criterion for crack coalescence and a damage evolution equation were proposed by considering the secondary cracks induced by excavations according to the fracture mechanics principles. A subprogram under the framework of FLAC-3D was developed for the damage constitutive model and the damage evolution equation. The model and program were then applied in the stability assessment for the Shuangjiangkou underground cavern group.

Blumea balsamifera oil (BBO) is a main extract obtained from Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC (Ainaxiang) leaves, which are widely used as a traditional medicine by the Miao and Li Nations to promote skin trauma or burn injury healing. This study was initiated to investigate the healing efficacy in deep second-degree burn model in rats. The rats were treated by BBO for 21 consecutive days. The rate of healing, scabs dropped time and re-epithelialization time were observed every three days for 21 days after burn injury. The samples were collected from different treated rats by sacrificing the animals on the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 9th, 14th, and 21st day post-burn creation. Then, the water content of burn tissue was measured. Plasma interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were evaluated, and the tissue expressions of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) were determined along with skin histopathology. The results showed that the water content of tissue was significantly reduced, the scabs dropped time shortened, and healing accelerated after treatment with BBO in the burn injury rats. Furthermore, the expressions of growth factors were significantly increased in the tissue, however, the levels of inflammatory factors on plasma decreased. This study confirms the efficacy of BBO consumption on burn injuries.

Two-dimensional carbon fiber cloth reinforced silicon oxycarbide (2D-Cf/Si-O-C) composites were fabricated with silicone resin (SR) as precursors, ethanol as solvent and SiC as inert fillers by precursor infiltration pyrolysis (PIP). Effects of the pyrolysis temperatures in the first cycle and the last but third cycle on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 2D-Cf/Si-O-C composites were investigated. The results showed that, when the pyrolysis temperature of the first cycle was 1200°C, 2D-Cf/Si-O-C composites exhibited good mechanical properties, which can be attributed to the better fiber/matrix interfacial bonding. When the pyrolysis temperature of the last but third cycle was 1400°C, the mechanical properties of 2D Cf/Si-O-C composites were further enhanced. The flexural strength and fracture toughness of the composites reached 263.9MPa and 12.8 MPa·m1/2, respectively.

Carbon fiber cloth reinforced silicon carbide (2D-Cf/SiC) composites were prepared through polycarbosilane(PCS) /divinylbenzene(DVB) pyrolysis with SiC as inactive filler. Effects of the molding pressure on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 2D-Cf/SiC composites were investigated. With increasing molding pressure from 0MPa to 3MPa, the fiber volume fraction of the composites was increased. As a result, the strengths of the composites were enhanced. But when the molding pressure exceeded 3MPa, SiC particles would damage the carbon fibers seriously. Therefore, although the fiber fraction of the composites was increased further, the flexural strengths of the composites were decreased. It was found that the composites fabricated with the molding pressure of 3 MPa exhibited highest flexural strength, reached 319.4 MPa.

Continuous SiC fiber reinforced SiC composites were fabricated by PIP route and their microstructures and mechanical properties were characterized. The density, flexural strength and fracture toughness of the composites were 1.88 g/cm3, 307 MPa and 8.24 MPa⋅m1/2, respectively. The low mechanical properties were ascribed to low density and strong interfacial bonding. The composites exhibited poor oxidation and thermal shock resistance; however, they showed desirable thermal stability.

SR-249, a kind of polysiloxane (PSO), was used as the precursor for the first time to fabricate carbon fiber cloth reinforced silicon oxycarbide (2D Cf/Si-O-C) composites. The cure and pyrolysis of the SR-249 as well as the mechanical properties, oxidation and thermal shock behavior of the composites were investigated in the paper. The flexural strength and fracture toughness of the composites reached 217.6 MPa and 12.5 MPa·m1/2, respectively. After soaked at 1300°C under the static air for 10 min, the composites retained 58.5% flexural strength and 64.5% fracture toughness. The thermal shock behavior of the composites was studied by water quenched method. The composites retained 49.3% flexural strength and 47.4% fracture toughness after 10 times of quenching from 1200 to 20°C.

In this paper, 3D Cf/Si-Ti-C-O composites were prepared with a polytitanocarbosilane (PTC) via polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) process, and accordingly the mechanical, oxidation resisting and thermal shock resisting properties were investigated. The composites with density of 1.93g·cm-3 show rather high flexural strength (485.3MPa) and fracture toughness (19.95MPa⋅m1/2), and typical non-brittle fracture failure mode. After oxidation treatment at 1300°C for 10 minutes in air, the flexural strength of the samples is 306.2MPa, with 63% strength retention. After 5 times of thermal shock tests from room temperature to 1300°C, the flexural strength of the samples is 408.9MPa, about 85% strength retention. SEM observation also testifies non-brittle failure because many fibers are pulled out on the fracture surface. After oxidation treatment, the matrix shows no changes from XRD measurement.

The aim of this work was to investigate the MRI findings on tumor xenografts induced in nude mice by the inoculation of human pancreatic cancer cells labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO), and to monitor the kinetics of SPIO distribution in tumor xenografts. The labeled cancer cells were subcutaneously inoculated into 11 nude mice to induce tumor xenograft. The unlabeled cancer cells served as a control inoculated into nine nude mice. MR imaging was performed with a 1.5 T MR scanner for the tumor xenograft at the first, second and third week after the inoculation. We found that the tumor xenograft was induced in 100% nude mice on MR imaging for both groups in the first week after the inoculation. In the SPIO group, the tumors showed homogeneous hypointensity on T₁ - and T₂ -weighted and FIESTA images 1 week after inoculation. Two and 3 weeks after inoculation, the center of the tumors was still hypointense on all the above sequences. The tumor periphery was isointense on T₁ -weighted, and hyperintense on T₂ -weighted and FIESTA images. The tumors in control group were homogeneously hypointense or isointense on T₁ -weighted, and hyperintense on T₂ -weighted and FIESTA images in the first, second and third week after the inoculation. The size and signal-to-noise ratio of the tumor center in the SPIO group had decreased subsequent to the inoculation in all T₁ - and T₂ -weighted images and FIESTA. Our results showed the human pancreatic cancer cells labeled with SPIO can induce tumor xenograft in nude mice and MRI can monitor the kinetics of SPIO distribution in tumor xenografts.

Objectives: This study aimed to study magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAs) induced by N-nitrosobis (2-oxopropyl) amine (BOP) in Syrian hamsters. Methods: A total of 101 female hamsters, 8 weeks old, were randomized into 3 groups. They were randomized into a BOP-treated group (n = 80; with weekly subcutaneous injections of BOP [10 mg/kg body weight] for 7 consecutive weeks), a saline-treated group (n = 16), and an untreated group (n = 5). Hamsters underwent abdominal MRI on 1.5-T MR scanners with a dedicated animal radiofrequency coil. Findings of the tumor from the MRI were compared those from histology. Results: Pancreata in the saline-treated and in the untreated groups were normal. In the BOP-treated group, there were 23 and 31 BOP-induced PDAs on macroscopy and microscopy, respectively. Of the PDAs detected on macroscopy, 65.2% were depicted on MRI. As early as 13 and 19 weeks after the first injection of BOP, PDAs in hamsters were found on histology and MRI, respectively. Moreover, the tumor volume on MRI was correlated with the tumor weights excised (r = 0.96, P = 0.000, n = 15). Conclusions: N-nitrosobis (2-oxopropyl) amine successfully induced PDAs in hamsters. Magnetic resonance imaging has the ability to detect healthy pancreas and PDAs in hamsters and has the potential to monitor the development of PDAs.