Publications by authors named "R Arrabal"

The present work aims to provide corrosion performance data for an additively manufactured Ti6Al4V alloy in saline and polluted environments. The as-received additively manufactured material underwent heat treatment at 850 °C for 3 h to transform the acicular α' microstructure into a lamellar α microstructure. Comparative corrosion assessments were conducted between the heat-treated substrates, the as-received condition, and a conventionally mill-annealed alloy.

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To regulate the degradation rate and improve the surface biocompatibility of the AZ31B magnesium alloy, three different coating systems were produced via plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO): simple PEO, PEO incorporating multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PEO + CNT), and a duplex coating that included a polycaprolactone top layer (PEO + CNT/PCL). Surfaces were characterized by chemical content, roughness, topography, and wettability. Biological properties analysis included cell metabolism and adhesion.

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In the present work, a hybrid hierarchical coating (HHC) system comprising a plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coating and a homogeneously porous structured polycaprolactone (PCL) top-coat layer, loaded with ciprofloxacin (CIP), was developed on Mg3Zn0.4Ca alloy. According to the findings, the HHC system avoided burst release and ensured gradual drug elution (64% over 240 h).

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Corrosion protection systems based on hexavalent chromium are traditionally perceived to be a panacea for many engineering metals including magnesium alloys. However, bans and strict application regulations attributed to environmental concerns and the carcinogenic nature of hexavalent chromium have driven a considerable amount of effort into developing safer and more environmentally friendly alternative techniques that provide the desired corrosion protection performance for magnesium and its alloys. Part I of this review series considers the various pre-treatment methods as the earliest step involved in the preparation of Mg surfaces for the purpose of further anti-corrosion treatments.

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Although hexavalent chromium-based protection systems are effective and their long-term performance is well understood, they can no longer be used due to their proven Cr(VI) toxicity and carcinogenic effect. The search for alternative protection technologies for Mg alloys has been going on for at least a couple of decades. However, surface treatment systems with equivalent efficacies to that of Cr(VI)-based ones have only begun to emerge much more recently.

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