Search results for " carbonate"

Flexible minerals: self-assembled calcite spicules with extreme bending strength.

2013

Flexi-Fibers Glass or metal fibers can show incredible flexibility. Natalio et al. (p. 1298 ; see the Perspective by Sethmann ) used the protein silicatein-α, which is responsible for the biomineralization of silicates in sponges, to guide the formation of spicules made of calcite. These synthetic spicules could be bent to a high degree because of their inherent elasticity, whilst retaining the ability to guide light.

2018

Synthetic materials based on calcium phosphate (CaP) are frequently used as bone graft substitutes when natural bone grafts are not available or not suitable. Chemical similarity to bone guarantees the biocompatibility of synthetic CaP materials, whereas macroporosity enables their integration into the natural bone tissue. To restore optimum mechanical performance after the grafting procedure, gradual resorption of CaP implants and simultaneous replacement by natural bone is desirable. Mg and Sr ions released from implants support osteointegration by stimulating bone formation. Furthermore, Sr ions counteract osteoporotic bone loss and reduce the probability of related fractures. The presen…

Early homogenous amorphous precursor stages of calcium carbonate and subsequent crystal growth in levitated droplets.

2008

An in situ study of the contact-free crystallization of calcium carbonate in acoustic levitated droplets is reported. The levitated droplet technique allows an in situ monitoring of the crystallization while avoiding any foreign phase boundaries that may influence the precipitation process by heterogeneous nucleation. The diffusion-controlled precipitation of CaCO3 at neutral pH starts in the initial step with the homogeneous formation of a stable, nanosized liquid-like amorphous calcium carbonate phase that undergoes in a subsequent step a solution-assisted transformation to calcite. Cryogenic scanning electron microscopy studies indicate that precipitation is not induced at the solution/a…

Three-dimensional hydration layer mapping on the (10.4) surface of calcite using amplitude modulation atomic force microscopy

2014

Calcite, the most stable modification of calcium carbonate, is a major mineral in nature. It is, therefore, highly relevant in a broad range of fields such as biomineralization, sea water desalination and oil production. Knowledge of the surface structure and reactivity of the most stable cleavage plane, calcite (10.4), is pivotal for understanding the role of calcite in these diverse areas. Given the fact that most biological processes and technical applications take place in an aqueous environment, perhaps the most basic - yet decisive - question addresses the interaction of water molecules with the calcite (10.4) surface. In this work, amplitude modulation atomic force microscopy is used…

Clear signature of the (2 x 1) reconstruction of calcite (1014).

2010

Calcite is a mineral of fundamental importance that plays a crucial role in many fields of research such as biomineralization, biomolecule adsorption, and reactivity as well as industrial and daily life applications. Consequently, the most stable cleavage plane of calcite has been studied extensively using both direct imaging techniques such as atomic force microscopy as well as spectroscopic and diffraction techniques. Several surface structures have been reported for the (10 (1) over bar4) cleavage plane of calcite differing from the simple bulk-truncated structure and an ongoing controversy exists in literature whether the cleavage plane exhibits a (2 x 1) reconstruction or not. We study…

Textural features and isotope geochemistry of the Scillato travertine (north-central Sicily): genetic implications.

2015

The travertine deposit, outcropping near the Scillato town (north-central Sicily), was originated by precipitation of calcium carbonate from the Scillato springs, documented as bicarbonate-enriched waters due to dissolution of the Madonie mountains carbonate rocks. This deposit is today well represented by the Travertine Cave, essentially constituted by stalactites and stalagmites in which travertine typically appears laminated with alternation of light and dark laminae. Mineralogical analysis have revealed the almost exclusive presence of calcite and observation under the polarized-light microscope showed different textural features, like presence of debris and porous portions, micritic po…

Carbon-isotope record and palaeoenvironmental changes during the early Toarcian oceanic anoxic event in shallow-marine carbonates of the Adriatic Car…

2013

AbstractGeochemical (δ13C, δ18O and Mn) compositions of Lower Jurassic shallow-water carbonates cropping out in Croatia were analyzed to elucidate the impact of the early Toarcian oceanic anoxic event (T-OAE) on the Adriatic Carbonate Platform (AdCP). The bulk-rock carbon-isotope records through the studied sections (Velebit-A, Velebit-B and Gornje Jelenje) are characterized by two significant excursions: (i) an initial positive trend interrupted by a pronounced negative shift (c. 2.5‰) that is followed by (ii) an increasing trend of positive values (up to 4.5‰). A comparison with δ13C trends obtained from well-calibrated sections from other localities in Europe shows that the overall chara…

Rheological and Mechanical Behavior of LDPE/Calcium Carbonate Nanocomposites and Microcomposites

2012

The increase of the interest in polymer nanocomposites has been leading to continuous growing search toward nanofillers alternative to the widely known clay-based ones. One of these possible alternatives is represented by calcium carbonate nanoparticles, which have not been widely investigated in such context. In this article, a study on the rheological and morphological behavior of dif- ferent low density polyethylene-calcium carbonate nanocomposites, compared with a reference calcium carbonate microcomposite, is presented. Several different nanosized calcium carbonates at different amounts were used. The results from the rheological and me- chanical tests outlined that only minor changes …

The Understanding of the Metazoan Skeletal System, Based on the Initial Discoveries with Siliceous and Calcareous Sponges

2017

Initiated by studies on the mechanism of formation of the skeletons of the evolutionary oldest still extant multicellular animals, the sponges (phylum Porifera) have provided new insights into the mechanism of formation of the Ca-phosphate/hydroxyapatite skeleton of vertebrate bone. Studies on the formation of the biomineral skeleton of sponges revealed that both the formation of the inorganic siliceous skeletons (sponges of the class of Hexactinellida and Demospongiae) and of the calcareous skeletons (class of Calcarea) is mediated by enzymes (silicatein: polymerization of biosilica; and carbonic anhydrase: deposition of Ca-carbonate). Detailed studies of the initial mineralization steps i…

Amplified morphogenetic and bone forming activity of amorphous versus crystalline calcium phosphate/polyphosphate.

2020

Amorphous Ca-phosphate (ACP) particles stabilized by inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) were prepared by co-precipitation of calcium and phosphate in the presence of polyP (15% [w/w]). These hybrid nanoparticles showed no signs of crystallinity according to X-ray diffraction analysis, in contrast to the particles obtained at a lower (5% [w/w]) polyP concentration or to hydroxyapatite. The ACP/15% polyP particles proved to be a suitable matrix for cell growth and attachment and showed pronounced osteoblastic and vasculogenic activity in vitro. They strongly stimulated mineralization of the human osteosarcoma cell line SaOS-2, as well as cell migration/microvascularization, as demonstrated in th…