AIM: To promote research on Biomaterials at the Deptartment of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering at undergraduate, postgraduate and post-doctorate levels. Create a centre for excellence in this area; and promote collaboration with other institutions and industry. Objectives: -
Promote multidisciplinary research in the fields of Biology, Chemistry and Engineering. -
Consolidate characterization and testing support -
Support sustainability of research by identifying funding opportunities -
Promoting networking -
Promote postgraduate research -
Improve accessibility of literature Members: - Dr Joseph Buhagiar (Group leader)
- Dr Ing. Stephen Abela
- Dr Bertram Mallia
- Dr Glenn Cassar
Student members: - Mr Malcolm Caligari Conti (PhD Student)
- Mr Luke Formosa (MSc by Research Student)
- Mr Clayton Farrugia (BSc Chemistry with Materials undergraduate student)
- Mr Julia Sammut (B.Eng undergraduate student)
- Mr Lukas Grech (B.Eng undergraduate student)
Academic collaborating partners by invitation: - Mr Ralph Hunger (Bodycote Hardiff GmbH)
- Prof Hanshan Dong (The University of Birmingham)
- Dr Pierre Schembri-Wismayer (The Department of Anatomy)
- Dr Josette Camilleri (Faculty of Dentistry)
- Dr Emmanuel Sinagra (Department of Chemistry)
Publications (Since 2007) - Buhagiar, J., Dong, H. & Bell, T. (2007) Low Temperature Plasma Surface Alloying of Medical Grade Austenitic Stainless Steel with C & N. Surf. Eng., 23, 313-317.
- Buhagiar, J. P. & Dong, H. (2008) Low-Temperature Plasma Surface Modification of Medical Grade Austenitic Stainless Steel to Combat Wear and Corrosion. Key. Eng. Mat., 373-374, 296-299.
- Buhagiar, J., Li, X. Y. & Dong, H. (2009) Formation and microstructural characterisation of S-phase layers in Ni-free austenitic stainless steels by low temperature plasma surface alloying. Surf. Coat. Technol. , 204, 330-335.
- Liu, J., Qian, L.-M., Dong, H. & Buhagiar, J. (2009) Effect of surface treatment on the fretting wear behaviour of medical grade austenitic stainless steels. Journal of Tribology (In Chinese), 29, 163-167.
- Li, X. Y., Buhagiar, J. & Dong, H. (2010) Characterisation of a dual S-phase layer on plasma carbonitrided biomedical austenitic stainless steels. Surf. Eng., 26, 72-78.
Buhagiar, J. and H. Dong, Low-Temperature Plasma Carbonitriding of ASTM F138 and ASTM F1586 Biomedical Stainless Steels Surface Engineering. Surf. Eng., 2010. 26(4): 256-264. - Buhagiar, J., Qian, L. & Dong, H. (2010) Surface property enhancement of Ni-free medical grade austenitic stainless steel by low-temperature plasma carburising, Surf. Coat. Technol. , 205, 388-395.
- Buhagiar, J., Bell, T., Sammons, R. & Dong, H. (2011) Evaluation of the biocompatibility of S-phase layers on medical grade austenitic stainless steels, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 22(5): 1269-1278
- Camilleri, J., Cutajar, A., Mallia, B. (2011) Hydration characteristics of zirconium oxide replaced Portland cement for use as a root-end filling material. Dental Materials, 27, 8, 844
- Camilleri, J., Mallia, B. (2011) Evaluation of the dimensional changes of mineral trioxide aggregate sealer. International Endodontic Journal, 44, 5, 416-424
- Cutajar, A., Mallia, B., Abela, S., Camilleri, J. (2011) Replacement of radiopacifier in mineral trioxide aggregate; characterisation and determination of physical properties. Dental Materials, 2011, 27, 9, 879-891
- Liua, J., Dong, H., Buhagiar, J., Song, C.F., Yu, B.J., Qian, L.M. & Zhou Z.R. (2011) Effect of low-temperature plasma carbonitriding on the fretting behaviour of 316LVM medical grade austenitic stainless steels, Wear, 271(9-10): 1490-1496
- Buhagiar, J., & Dong, H. (2012) Corrosion properties of S-phase layers formed on medical grade austenitic stainless steel, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 23(2): 271-281
- Formosa, D., Hunger R., Spiteri, A., Dong, H., Sinagra, E., &
Buhagiar, J. (2012) Corrosion behaviour of carbon S-phase created on
Ni-free biomedical stainless steel, Surf. Coat. Technol., 206,
3479–3487
- Buhagiar, J., Spiteri, A., Sacco, M., Sinagra, E., & Dong, H. (2012) Augmentation of Crevice Corrosion Resistance of Medical Grade 316LVM Stainless Steel by Plasma Carburising, Corr. Sci., in press
22 May 2012
http://www.um.edu.mt/eng/mme/research/biomaterials |
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