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Paul W.
Brown
Professor of Ceramics
136 Materials Research Laboratory Building
814-865-5352
brown@matse.psu.edu |
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Research
Interests:
• Low
Temperature Formation of Advanced Ceramics and
Composites
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Areas of Interest:
Professor Brown’s interests include establishing the mechanisms
leading to strength development in calcium silicate cements used
for civil engineering and alumina and phosphate based cements
used in refractory applications. Specifically Professor
Brown is interested in the mechanisms and kinetics of hydration
of the major cement compounds and their relationship to microstructural
development and mechanical properties. He is also interested
in the mechanisms which compromise the service lives of concrete
used in civil engineering. In particular he is interested
in mechanisms of sulfate attack, the alkali silica reaction and
those facilitating the corrosion of embedded reinforcing steel.
Professor Brown is also evaluating the mechanisms by which synthetic hard tissue
analogs can be formed in vivo. His interest is focused on compositions
close to native tissues as these are easily osteointegrated., it is des In particular
his group has carried out a significant number of studies related to the formation
of monolithic hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate-collagen composites at physiologic
temperature. These studies have demonstrated the ability to form hydroxyapatite
compositions containing various substitutions which confer bioactivities that
can be tailored to a specific need. Unlike many conventional ceramics large
porosity is desirable in bone analogs to facilitate osteointergration. Reduction
in strength can be compensated by producing composites containing suitable polymers. Work
in Professor Brown’s group has led to the development of hydroxyapatite-collagen
composites which can be constituted at the time of surgery, placed in a defect
as a paste, development needed mechanical properties in vivo, exhibit physical
properties approaching those of true bone, and undergo resorption and eventual
replacement by native tissue. |
Technologies
impacted by research:
Professor Brown is active in The
American Concrete Institute and relevant ASTM committees
to facilitate the transfer of new technical information
on concrete into building codes and standards.
The ability to employ a paste which hardened
to a bone-like mass significantly extents the
opportunity of a surgeon to optimally treat bone defects
having complex shapes or which have been caused as the
result of trauma.
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Articles and Publications:
1. J.V. Bothe Jr and P.W. Brown, “PhreeqC modeling of Friedel’s salt
equilibria at 23±1°C,” Cement and Concrete Research, published.
2. P.W. Brown, R.D. Hooton, and B.A. Clark, “Microstructural
changes in concretes with sulfate exposure,” Cement
and Concrete Composites, published.
3. P.W. Brown and J.V. Bothe Jr., “The system CaO-Al2O3-CaCl2-H2O
at 23±4°C
and mechanisms of chloride binding in concrete,” Cement and Concrete
Research, published.
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