NiTi arch wires are used widely in orthodontic treatment due to its superelastic and biocompatibility properties. In brackets configuration, the force released from the arch wire is influenced by the sliding resistances developed on the arch wire-bracket contact. This study investigated the evolution of the forces released by a rectangular NiTi arch wire towards possible intraoral temperature and deflection changes. A three dimensional finite element model was developed to measure the force-deflection behavior of superelastic arch wire. Finite element analysis was used to distinguish the martensite fraction and phase state of arch wire microstructure in relation to the magnitude of wire deflection. The predicted tensile and bending results from the numerical model showed a good agreement with the experimental results. As contact developed between the wire and bracket, binding influenced the force-deflection curve by changing the martensitic transformation plateau into a slope. The arch wire recovered from greater magnitude of deflection released lower force than one recovered from smaller deflection. In contrast, it was observed that the plateau slope increased from 0.66N/mm to 1.1N/mm when the temperature was increased from 26°C to 46°C.
Tantalum pentoxide nanotubes (Ta2O5NTs) can dramatically raise the biological functions of different kinds of cells, thus have promising applications in biomedical fields. In this study, Ta2O5NTs were prepared on biomedical grade Ti-6Al-4V alloy (Ti64) via physical vapor deposition (PVD) and a successive two-step anodization in H2SO4: HF (99:1)+5% EG electrolyte at a constant potential of 15V. To improve the adhesion of nanotubular array coating on Ti64, heat treatment was carried out at 450°C for 1h under atmospheric pressure with a heating/cooling rate of 1°Cmin-1. The surface topography and composition of the nanostructured coatings were examined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS), to gather information about the corrosion behavior, wear resistance and bioactivity in simulated body fluids (SBF). From the nanoindentation experiments, the Young's modulus and hardness of the 5min anodized sample were ~ 135 and 6GPa, but increased to ~ 160 and 7.5GPa, respectively, after annealing at 450°C. It was shown that the corrosion resistance of Ti64 plates with nanotubular surface modification was higher than that of the bare substrate, where the 450°C annealed specimen revealed the highest corrosion protection efficiency (99%). Results from the SBF tests showed that a bone-like apatite layer was formed on nanotubular array coating, as early as the first day of immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF), indicating the importance of nanotubular configuration on the in-vitro bioactivity.
The main failure factors of cortical bone are aging or osteoporosis, accident and high energy trauma or physiological activities. However, the mechanism of damage evolution coupled with yield criterion is considered as one of the unclear subjects in failure analysis of cortical bone materials. Therefore, this study attempts to assess the structural response and progressive failure process of cortical bone using a brittle damaged plasticity model. For this reason, several compressive tests are performed on cortical bone specimens made of bovine femur, in order to obtain the structural response and mechanical properties of the material. Complementary finite element (FE) model of the sample and test is prepared to simulate the elastic-to-damage behavior of the cortical bone using the brittle damaged plasticity model. The FE model is validated in a comparative method using the predicted and measured structural response as load-compressive displacement through simulation and experiment. FE results indicated that the compressive damage initiated and propagated at central region where maximum equivalent plastic strain is computed, which coincided with the degradation of structural compressive stiffness followed by a vast amount of strain energy dissipation. The parameter of compressive damage rate, which is a function dependent on damage parameter and the plastic strain is examined for different rates. Results show that considering a similar rate to the initial slope of the damage parameter in the experiment would give a better sense for prediction of compressive failure.
It has been reported that the adhesion of bioactive glass coatings to Ti6Al4V reduces after degradation, however, this effect has not been quantified. This paper uses bilayer double cantilever (DCB) specimens to determine GIC and GIIC, the critical mode I and mode II strain energy release rates, respectively, of bioactive coating/Ti6Al4V substrate systems degraded to different extents. Three borate-based bioactive glass coatings with increasing amounts of incorporated SrO (0, 15 and 25mol%) were enamelled onto Ti6Al4V substrates and then immersed in de-ionized water for 2, 6 and 24h. The weight loss of each glass composition was measured and it was found that the dissolution rate significantly decreased with increasing SrO content. The extent of dissolution was consistent with the hypothesis that the compressive residual stress tends to reduce the dissolution rate of bioactive glasses. After drying, the bilayer DCB specimens were created and subjected to nearly mode I and mode II fracture tests. The toughest coating/substrate system (one composed of the glass containing 25mol% SrO) lost 80% and 85% of its GIC and GIIC, respectively, in less than 24h of degradation. The drop in GIC and GIIC occurred even more rapidly for other coating/substrate systems. Therefore, degradation of borate bioactive glass coatings is inversely related to their fracture toughness when coated onto Ti6A4V substrates. Finally, roughening the substrate was found to be inconsequential in increasing the toughness of the system as the fracture toughness was limited by the cohesive toughness of the glass itself.
In all-ceramic systems, a high incidence of veneer chip-off has been reported in clinical studies. Coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) behaviour is one of the factors that may increase residual stress in the interface and influence the veneer/core bond strength. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of sodalite zeolite-infiltration on the CTE behaviour and bond strength of different all-ceramic prostheses. The case-study groups were synthesized sodalite zeolite-infiltrated alumina (IA-SOD) and synthesized sodalite zeolite-infiltrated zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) (IZ-SOD), while the control groups were glass-infiltrated alumina (IA-glass) and glass-infiltrated ZTA (IZ-glass). Forty cylindrical-shaped samples measuring 5 mm in diameter and 10 mm in height were tested for CTE using a thermo-mechanical analyser machine, and forty disc-shaped ceramic samples measuring 12 mm in diameter and 1.2 ± 0.2 mm in thickness were prepared using specially designed stainless steel split mould and veneered by cylinder-shaped (2 mm high × 2 mm diameter) low-fusing porcelain (Vita VM7). The veneer/core samples were sintered and tested for shear bond strength using a high precision universal testing machine. Scanning electron microscope, stereo microscope, atomic force microscope, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to investigate the structural characteristics of samples at the fracture surface. The collected data were analyzed with a one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD test (α=.05). IZ-SOD revealed highest CTE and shear bond strength values, while the IA-glass revealed the lowest values than the other groups. There was no significant difference in CTE and bond strength among IZ-SOD, IA-SOD and IZ-glass samples (p>0.05). The experimental SOD zeolite-infiltrated samples revealed higher CTE mismatch and bond strength along with a more favourable mode of failure than did the commercial glass-infiltrated samples. Sandblast technique is considered as effective conditioning procedure for enhancing the surface roughness of SOD zeolite-infiltrated frameworks which subsequently improving the bond strength.
In the last decade, magnesium alloys have been considered as absorbable metals for biomedical applications, while some have reached their clinical use as temporary bone implants. However, their widespread use is still limited by its strength and degradability. One way of improvement can be done by reinforcing magnesium alloys with carbon nanofibres to form composites. This work aims at developing carbon nanofibre-reinforced magnesium-zinc (Mg-Zn/CNF) composites with optimum strength and degradability while ensuring their biocompatibility. A response surface method was used to determine their optimum process parameters (composition, compaction pressure, and sintering temperature), and analyse the resulting properties (elastic modulus, hardness, weight loss, and cytocompatibility). Results showed that the optimal parameters were reached at 1.8% of CNF, 425 MPa of compaction pressure, and 500 °C of sintering temperature, whereby it gave an elastic modulus of 5 GPa, hardness of 60 Hv, and a weight loss of 51% after three days immersion in PBS. The composites exhibited a hydrophobic surface that controlled the liberation of Mg2+ and Zn2+ ions, leading to more than 70% osteoblast cells viability up to seven days of incubation. This study can also serve as a starting point for future researchers interested in finding methods to fabricate Mg-Zn/CNF composites with high mechanical characteristics, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility.
The need to overcome the secondary surgery to remove implanted metal fixation plate leads to the idea of replacing the material with degradable bionanocomposite. In this research, polylactic acid/polypropylene (PLA/PPC) blends incorporated with halloysite nanotubes (HNT) (0-6 wt %) were considered as the candidate material for mandibular fixation plate. A single-factor design using Design Expert software was used to determine 20 different compositions of PLA/PPC/HNT nanocomposites and their mechanical properties were then measured. The optimization of the PLA/PPC/HNT nanocomposite composition was performed based on the nanocomposite's response to Young's modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break. Further analysis suggested an optimum composition of 92.5/7.5 PLA/PPC with 6 wt % of HNT. The statistical results predicted that there was a 71.7% possibility that the proposed nanocomposite would have the following mechanical properties: Young's modulus of 2.18 GPa, a tensile strength of 64.16 MPa, and an elongation at break of 106.53%.
Poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone) (PGCL) has become a novice to the bioresorbable suture owing to the synergistic properties taken from the homo-polyglycolide (PGA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) such as excellent bioresorption and flexibility. In addition to under conventional monotonic loading, the understanding of mechanical responses of PGCL copolymers under complex loading conditions such as cyclic and stress relaxation is crucial for its application as a surgical suture. Consequently, the present work focuses on evaluating the mechanical responses of PGCL sutures under monotonic, cyclic, and stress relaxation loading conditions. Under monotonic loading, the stress-strain behavior of the PGCL suture was found to be non-linear with noticeable strain-rate dependence. Under cyclic loading, inelastic responses including stress-softening, hysteresis and permanent set were observed. During cyclic loading, both stress-softening and hysteresis were found to increase with the maximum strain. In multi-step stress relaxation, the PGCL sutures were observed to exhibit a strong viscoelastic response. In an attempt to describe the relationship between the stress-relaxation and strain-induced crystallization (SIC) occurring during the loading and relaxation processes, a schematic illustration of the conformational change of polymer chains in PGCL sutures was proposed in this work. Results showed that SIC was dependent on the strain level as well as the loading and relaxation durations. The inelastic phenomena observed in PGCL sutures can be thus correlated to the combined effect of stress relaxation and SIC.
The aim is to evaluate the development of an experimental multi-mode/Universal resin-based dentin adhesive modified with synthetic Mg2+ doped hydroxyapatite crystals (HAp) having self-remineralization and antibiofilm properties. HAp doped with Mg2+ was prepared by the precipitation method. Experimental adhesives were subjected to degree of conversion and X-ray diffraction test for size and crystal structure. Bond strength was tested, and electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) imaging of resin-dentin interface was done along with nanoleakage, nanoindentation, confocal and Raman analyses. S. mutans was analysed using CLSM images against modified adhesive specimens. Nucleating abilities within the resin-dentin specimens are determined by measuring Ca2+. Alkaline phosphatase, Runx2, and Ocn transcripts are amplified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR). A calcium assay is performed to quantify level of mineralisation. When compared to control adhesives, the 0.5% Hap/Mg2+ containing experimental dentin adhesive demonstrated improved interaction with dentin. The preservation of uniform intact hybrid layer with the absence of nanoleakage indicated dentin bond integrity with 0.5% HAP/Mg2+ modified adhesive. Self-remineralization and antibiofilm potentials are supported.
Machining-induced surface fractures in ceramic restorations is a long-standing problem in dentistry, affecting the restorations' functionality and reliability. This study approached a novel ultrasonic vibration-assisted machining technique to zirconia-containing lithium silicate glass-ceramics (ZLS) and characterized its induced surface fracture topographies and morphologies to understand the microstructure-property-processing relations. The materials were processed using a digitally controlled ultrasonic milling machine at a harmonic vibration frequency with different amplitudes. Machining-induced surface fracture topographies were measured with a 3D white light optical profilometer using the arithmetic mean, peak and valley, and maximum heights, as well as the kurtosis and skewness height distributions, and the texture aspect ratios. Fracture morphologies were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface fracture topographies were significantly dependent on the material microstructure, the mechanical properties, and the ultrasonic machining vibration amplitudes. Larger scale fractures with higher arithmetic mean, peak and valley heights, and kurtosis and skewness height distributions were induced in higher brittleness indexed pre-crystallized ZLS than lower indexed crystallized ZLS by conventional machining. Conchoidal fractures occurred in pre-crystallized ZLS while microcracks were found in crystallized state although brittle fractures mixed with localized ductile flow deformations dominated all machined ZLS surfaces. Ultrasonic machining at an ideal vibration amplitude resulted in more ductile removal, reducing fractured-induced peaks and valleys for both materials than conventional processing. This research demonstrates the microstructure-property-processing interdependence for ZLS materials and the novel machining technique to be superior to current processing, reducing fractures in the materials and potentially advancing dental CAD/CAM techniques.
This work investigates the role of sintering temperature on bioactive glass-ceramics derived from the new composition CaO-P2O5-Na2O-B2O3-SiO2 glass system. The sintering behaviour of the samples' physical, structural, and mechanical properties is highlighted in this study. The experimental results indicated that the sintering process improved the crystallization and hardness of the final product. Results from XRD and FTIR showed the existence of carbonate apatite, pseudo-wollastonite, and wollastonite phases. From the results, the bioglass-ceramics sintered at 700 °C obtained the highest densification and optimum mechanical results. It had the value of 5.34 ± 0.21 GPa regarding microhardness and 2.99 ± 0.24 MPa m1/2 concerning fracture toughness, which falls in the range of the human enamel. Also, the sintered samples maintained their bioactivity and biodegradability after being tested in the PBS medium. The bioactivity does not affect but slows down the apatite formation rate. Overall results promoted the novel bioglass-ceramics as a candidate material for dental application.
Sodium alginate/hydroxyapatite/Nano cellulose (SA/HA/NC) nanocomposite films that possess good biocompatibility for bone tissue engineering are prepared by a simple solution casting. HA is one of the most frequently used bioceramic materials to achieve a high biocompatibility. The bionanocomposite films are analysed by XRD, SEM, EDAX and FTIR studies. XRD confirms the existence of fillers in the polymer. FTIR spectrum shows the different functional modes in the bionanocomposite films. The morphology of fillers and bionanocomposite films are obtained through SEM. The inclusion of NC with different concentrations into the biopolymer film improves the tensile strength. As a result, the loading of 5 wt % of NC and 10 wt% of HA in the SA polymer shows high tensile strength when compared to the pure SA, SA filled with 10 wt% of HA and SA loaded with 10 wt% of HA and inclusion of NC (0.5 and 2.5 wt%). The tensile strength (TS) of bionanocomposite film with 10 wt % of HA is increased by 17%. TS of bionanocomposite film with 0.5 and 2.5 wt% of NC is increased by 177 and 277%, whereas TS of bionanocomposite film loaded 5 wt% of NC is increased by 331%. The swelling, biodegradation and biomineralization tests suggest that this bionanocomposite films are hopeful biomaterials for bone tissue engineering.
A successful attempt has been made to improve the mechanical properties of Hydroxyapatite (HAp) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite nanoparticles (NPs). Various proportions of HAp and rGO were synthesized to improve the mechanical properties. HAp NPs were prepared using the wet precipitation method and further calcined to form crystalline particles. The physicochemical characterization of the HAp NPs revealed that the crystalline size and percentage of crystallinity were calculated to be 42.49 ± 1.2 nm and 44% post calcination. Furthermore, the rGO-HA composites were prepared using ball milling and obtained in the shape of pellets with different ratios of rGO (10, 20, 30, 40, 50% wt.). The mechanical properties have been evaluated through a Universal testing machine. Compared to calcined HAp (cHAp), the strength of variants significantly enhanced with the increased concentration of rGO. The compressive strength of HA-rGO with the ratio of the concentration of 60:40% by weight is a maximum of about 10.39 ± 0.43 MPa. However, the porosity has also been bolstered by increasing the concentration of rGO, which has been evaluated through the liquid displacement method. The mean surface roughness of the composites has also been evaluated from the images through Image J (an image analysis program).
The purpose of this study was to systematically review the impact of nanofillers on the physicomechanical properties of resin-based pit and fissure sealants (RBS). This review included in vitro studies with full-length English-language articles reporting on the physicomechanical properties of nanofilled RBS until February 2023. PubMed, Web of Sciences, Scopus, and LILACS databases were accessed for literature searches. The review was formulated based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and used the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines and risk of bias Cochrane tool for quality assessment. The search resulted in 539 papers, of which 22 were eligible to be included in the review. Inorganic, polymeric, core-shell, and composite nanomaterials were used to reinforce the studied RBS. The inherent nature of the nanomaterial used, its morphology, concentration, and volume used were the primary parameters that determined the nanomaterial's success as a filler in RBS. These parameters also influenced their interaction with the resin matrix, which influenced the final physicomechanical properties of RBS. The use of nanofillers that were non-agglomerated and well dispersed in the resin matrix enhanced the physicomechanical properties of RBS.
Bone regeneration is a rapidly growing field that seeks to develop new biomaterials to regenerate bone defects. Conventional bone graft materials have limitations, such as limited availability, complication, and rejection. Glass ionomer cement (GIC) is a biomaterial with the potential for bone regeneration due to its bone-contact biocompatibility, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness. GIC is a two-component material that adheres to the bone and releases ions that promote bone growth and mineralization. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed-MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases and registered in the PROSPERO database to determine the evidence regarding the efficacy and bone-contact biocompatibility of GIC as bone cement. Out of 3715 initial results, thirteen studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. Two tools were employed in evaluating the Risk of Bias (RoB): the QUIN tool for assessing in vitro studies and SYRCLE for in vivo. The results indicate that GIC has demonstrated the ability to adhere to bone and promote bone growth. Establishing a chemical bond occurs at the interface between the GIC and the mineral phase of bone. This interaction allows the GIC to exhibit osteoconductive properties and promote the growth of bone tissue. GIC's bone-contact biocompatibility, ease of preparation, and cost-effectiveness make it a promising alternative to conventional bone grafts. However, further research is required to fully evaluate the potential application of GIC in bone regeneration. The findings hold implications for advancing material development in identifying the optimal composition and fabrication of GIC as a bone repair material.
The use of all porcelain materials in dentistry has significantly increased in recent years. However, chipping has remained a common problem that affects bilayered zirconia restorations. Bonding between porcelain and the underlying zirconia framework is crucial to the success of the restoration. The bond strength may be affected by such factors as residual thermal stress and the veneering technique. This research focuses on investigating the potential and constraints of materials through an examination of the porcelain veneering technique, particularly hand-layering and heat-pressing. Forty-two cylindrical disc samples of zirconia (n = 7/group) were fabricated in the dimensions of 10 × 1.2 mm (diameter [D] × height [H]). The zirconia specimens were milled from IPS e.max® ZirCad [Z] block and Luxen Zr [L] block (n = 21/zirconia). The zirconia cores were layered with IPS e.max® Zirliner and heat-pressed with IPS e.max® ZirPress to produce a final veneer dimension of 5 × 3 mm (D × H). Conventional layering was performed for the rest of the zirconia cores using IPS e.max® Ceram and Shofu Vintage Zr. The final study groups were Luxen-Vintage (LV), Luxen-Ceram (LC), Luxen Zirpress (LP), ZirCad-Vintage (ZV), ZirCad-Ceram (ZC) and ZirCad-Zirpress (ZP). Five samples were subjected to shear bond testing (SBS) with a universal testing machine with a 5 kN load cell and 0.5 mm/min crosshead speed (n = 5/group). A sample underwent nanoindentation, and another was sectioned using Isomet machine to study the bonding interface. One-way ANOVA was used to run the statistical analyses of the SBS test. Statistical differences were found between ZV with LC and LP (p
Sandwich panel is increasingly used as lightweight energy absorbing components, which provides excellent crashworthiness performance with the three-dimensional periodic core. This paper investigates 3D-printed bio-inspired spherical-roof cubic cores with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and foam-filled cores under quasi-static loading. The proposed bio-inspired spherical-roof cubic cores with 1.5 mm wall thickness were manufactured using the fused filament fabrication process, which used 70% polylactic acid (PLA) and 30% carbon fiber filament. Moreover, four groups of 3D-printed bio-inspired spherical-roof cubic cores were compared and analyzed on compressive properties and failure behavior. Experimental results were shown that foam-filled double bio-inspired spherical-roof cubic core with MWCNT was the maximum Fpeak with 1.92 kN, which provided a much more stable plateau load and better energy-absorbing characteristics. In addition, it is conducted that a double bio-inspired spherical-roof cubic core with four notches core is considered as the potential energy-absorbing core.
Arundo donax L. is investigated in this study as a suitable reinforcing agent for PLA/PP waste blend 3D printing filament. To improve the compatibility of the fibre and polymer, the Arundo fibre was chemically modified using alkali and silane treatment. Untreated and treated fibres were extruded with Polymer blends before being 3D printed. Effect of chemical treatment on thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties of the composites was investigated. The tensile, Izod impact, and water absorption of the 3D printed specimens were also tested. The Alkali treated (ALK) and combination of alkali and silane treatment (SLN) composites displayed good results. Tensile strength and modulus of the materials increased, as well as their maintained stability in the Izod impact test, demonstrating that the incorporation of ArF did not result in a loss in performance. SEM examination supported these findings by confirming the creation of beneficial interfacial contacts between the matrix and fibre components, as demonstrated by the lack of void between the matrix and the fibre surface. Furthermore, the alkali treatment of the ArF resulted in a considerable reduction in water absorption inside the biocomposite, with a 64% reduction seen in ALK composite comparison to the untreated composite (Un). After the 43-day assessment period.
While titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) made by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) exhibits complex deformation behaviors, its important micromechanical properties in relation to loading directions are not fully understood. This research aims to investigate the micromechanical behaviors of printed L-PBF Ti-6Al-4V alloys under vertical (i.e., the loading direction perpendicular to printed layers) and horizontal (i.e., the loading direction parallel to printed layers) compressions using in-situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micropillar techniques. Ti-6Al-4V alloys were L-PBF-printed using a 45° rotate scanning strategy with vertical and horizontal build directions. The microstructures of the two alloys were analyzed using the SEM with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The titanium alloy micropillars were produced using focused ion beam (FIB) milling in the SEM. In-situ SEM micropillar compressions were conducted using a flat diamond indenter. Vertical alloy had smaller cross-patterned finer α' martensite than horizontal one. While both vertical and horizontal micropillars showed elastic-plastic behaviors, the former had significantly higher yield, fracture, and compression strength values, as well as resilience and toughness, than the latter, leading to the formation of favorable shear bands. Both micropillars exhibited ductile fractures but had distinct failure mechanisms. The ductile fracture in the vertical micropillars was due to strain hardening, large plastic deformation, and shear band formation, while the ductile fracture in the horizontal ones was attributed to compression-induced bending and plastic buckling. The micromechanical characteristics of L-PBF Ti-6Al-4V materials provides an important insight into the small-scale deformation and failure mechanisms of the alloys influenced by loading directions.