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A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6 1 6 SURFACE ENGINEERING PLASMA IMPLANT COATING PREVENTS INFECTIONS To lower the risk of infection and Scanning electron microscope image of a properly grown cell on a dental implant. Courtesy of Fraunhofer IFAM.

The silver nanoparticles dissolve over a period of several weeks and during that time they continuously release small quantities of antimicrobial silver ions. www.ifam.fraunhofer.de/en.html. PENGUIN FEATHERS INSPIRE ANTI-ICING COATING Antarctic penguins live in the bit- ter cold, where air temperature can drop to -40°C and winds reach speeds of 40 m/s. Although these birds routine- ly hop in and out of the water in sub- freezing temperatures, they manage to keep ice from coating their feathers. To discover the penguins’ anti- icing secret, researchers at University of California, Los Angeles studied pen- guin feathers, donated by SeaWorld San Diego. Scanning electron microsco- py shows that the feathers feature tiny pores that trap air andmake the surface hydrophobic. In addition, penguins ap- ply an oil to their feathers, which is

Pirouz Kavehpour poses with a penguin studied by his team to learn about anti- icing tricks. produced by a gland near the base of their tails. The combination of the nanosized pits and the preen oil makes the feathers superhydrophobic. This avian technique could help hu- mans solve some problems with ice. For example, iceonanairplane’swings, flaps, and rudder can alter the aerodynamic properties of the plane and even cause accidents, leading to the need for chem- ical de-icers. Superhydrophobic surfaces inspired by penguins could be cheaper, longer-lasting, and more environmen- tally friendly. “It’s ironic that a bird that doesn’t fly could one day help airplanes flymore safely,” says Pirouz Kavehpour, a professor at UCLA. For more information: Pirouz Kavehpour, 310.825.6494, pirouz@ seas.ucla.edu, mae.ucla.edu.

improve the long-term effectiveness of dental implants, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, Germany, developed a new type of implant coating in cooperation with in- dustry partners. The DentaPlas coating helps prevent bacteria growth, allowing the implant to takeholdand forma faster andmore permanent bond with the jaw- bone. The new approach combines sur- face materials that feature both physical and chemical properties. “We have given the DentaPlas coating a rough texture, which promotes cellular growth, in ad- dition to combining it with a hydrophilic plasma polymer coating, which attracts moisture,” says Ingo Grunwald at IFAM. Researchers integrated silver nanoparti- cles into the thin plasma polymer coat- ing, which is no more than 100 nm thick.

BRIEF ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa., released a new standard titled Standard Specification for Electrolytic Plasma Treatment Processing of Conductive Materials. The specification covers the requirements for cleaning, coating, or surface modification, or combinations thereof, of conductive materials, primarily metals. It covers any conductive material treated or processed by the electrolytic plasma process including products designated as long products, including wire and fine wire; flat-rolled materials; fasteners; connectors; bolts; assemblies; structural materials; hard- ware items; and medical items. astm.org.