Non-contact Optical Profilometer Research Articles

In vitro evaluation of the mechanical and optical properties of 3D printed vs CAD/CAM milled denture teeth materials

This laboratory research aimed to assess the Flexural strength, fracture toughness, Volumetric wear and optical properties of various recent 3D-printed denture tooth materials and compare them to CAD/CAM milled materials. Four 3D-printed denture tooth materials (Lucitone Tooth, OnX, Flexcera Ultra +, and VarseoSmile Crown Plus) and one CAD/CAM milled denture teeth material (Ivotion Dent) were used to fabricate fifteen specimens for each material (with total no. of 300 specimens). Tests were conducted according to ISO standards to assess flexural strength, fracture toughness, color staining, and volumetric wear. All materials were printed, washed, cured, or milled following the manufacturer’s instructions. Flexural strength and fracture toughness values were obtained by a universal testing machine. Volumetric wear was evaluated using a non-contact optical profilometer. Color stability outcomes were obtained via a spectrophotometer for determining L*a*b* values, with color change (ΔE2000) based on the CIEDE2000 formula. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc analysis (α = 0.05). All 3D-printed materials exhibited higher flexural strength values than the milled material (p < 0.05). For fracture toughness, two of the 3D-printed materials showed higher values than the milled material, while the other two had lower values. Insignificant variances in volumetric wear were detected between the materials (p > 0.05). Color staining results varied, with milled materials generally demonstrating better-staining resistance compared to the 3D-printed materials. 3D-printed denture tooth materials exhibit good mechanical and optical properties, presenting a cost-effective and efficient alternative to CAD/CAM milled materials for denture tooth fabrication.

The determination of the electrochemically active surface area and its effects on the electrocatalytic properties of structured nickel electrodes produced by additive manufacturing

Additively manufactured (AM) nickel electrodes offer a great potential as an efficient solution for oxygen evolution catalysts in alkaline electrolyzers, since advanced fabrication methods allow the design of high surface area electrodes. The accurate determination of the electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) is a key step in the evaluation of the intrinsic catalytic activity of complex electrodes. In this work, we fabricated Ni electrodes with different macroscopic lattice structures using laser powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-LB/M). The selected designs allow exploring the effects of the electrode geometry on the electrochemical performance. X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS) and a non-contact optical profilometer (NCOP) were used to investigate the composition and surface morphology of the electrodes. The ECSA was determined by three different approaches. 1. Linear and non-linear allometric fitting of the double layer capacitance from voltammetric experiments. 2. Integration of the Ni2+/Ni3+ transition, also from voltammetry. 3. Assessing double layer capacitance determined from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) at open circuit potential (OCP) and the adsorption capacitance for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) intermediates. Comparing these methods, large deviations in the resulting ECSAs were found, motivating a comprehensive discussion. In addition, four different reactions were investigated, ferri-ferrocyanide redox system, hydrogen evolution, ethanol electrooxidation, and oxygen evolution reaction. The obtained results demonstrate the potential of AM to tailor electrode performance by altering electrode geometry. The findings underline the importance of the ECSA determination for the comparison of the electrocatalytic activity in different electrodes.

Effect of coffee thermal cycling on the surface properties and stainability of additively manufactured denture base resins in different layer thicknesses.

To compare the effect of coffee thermal cycling on surface roughness (Ra), Vickers microhardness (MH), and stainability of denture base resins additively manufactured in different layer thicknesses with those of subtractively manufactured denture base materials. Eighty disk-shaped specimens (Ø10×2mm) were fabricated from two subtractively (Merz M-PM [SM-M] and G-CAM [SM-G]) and three additively (NextDent 3D+ [50µm, AM-N-50; 100µm, AM-N-100], FREEPRINT Denture [50µm, AM-F-50; 100µm, AM-F-100], and Denturetec [50µm, AM-S-50; 100µm, AM-S-100]) manufactured denture base materials (n = 10). Ra measurements were performed before and after polishing by using a non-contact optical profilometer, while MH values and color coordinates were measured after polishing. Specimens were then subjected to 5000 cycles of coffee thermal cycling, all measurements were repeated, and color differences (ΔE00) were calculated. A linear mixed effect model was used to analyze Ra and MH data, while one-way analysis of variance was used to analyze ΔE00 data (α = 0.05). Ra values were further evaluated according to a clinically acceptable threshold of 0.2µm, while ΔE00 values were evaluated according to perceptibility (1.72 units) and acceptability (4.08 units) thresholds. The interaction between the material type and the time interval affected both Ra and MH (p ≤ 0.001). Tested materials had their highest Ra before polishing (p ≤ 0.029). Before polishing, AM-F-100 had the highest, and SM-M and SM-G had the lowest Ra (p < 0.001). After polishing and after coffee thermal cycling, SM-G mostly had lower Ra than those of other materials (p ≤ 0.036). SM-G mostly had higher MH than that of other materials before and after coffee thermal cycling (p ≤ 0.025). Coffee thermal cycling reduced the MH of SM-M and increased that of AM-S-100 (p ≤ 0.024). AM-N-100 had higher ΔE00 than AM-F, AM-S-100, and SM-G (p ≤ 0.009), while AM-F and SM-G had lower ΔE00 than AM-S-50 and AM-N-50 (p ≤ 0.024). Polishing reduced the surface roughness of all materials, whereas the effect of coffee thermal cycling was nonsignificant. Most of the tested materials had acceptable surface roughness after polishing and after coffee thermal cycling according to the reported threshold. Layer thickness only affected the microhardness of tested additively manufactured resins, which was material-dependent. Subtractively manufactured specimens mostly had high microhardness and that of nonreinforced subtractively manufactured resin decreased after coffee thermal cycling. When reported color thresholds are considered, all materials had acceptable color stability.

Comparison of surface characteristics of denture base resin materials with two surface treatment protocols and simulated brushing.

To investigate the effects of 4 denture base materials, 2 surface treatment protocols, and simulated brushing (SB) on the surface hardness, surface roughness, surface gloss, and the surface loss of denture base materials. Four denture base resin material groups (compression-molded, injection-molded, 3D-printed, and milled) with two different surface treatment protocols (polished and glazed) were utilized in this study. A total of 80 samples (n = 10) were evaluated for surface hardness (Vickers) before SB. SB was performed for each sample (custom-built V8 cross brushing machine, 50,000 reciprocal strokes). Surface roughness (Ra) was measured before and after SB with a non-contact optical profilometer. Surface gloss was performed using a glossmeter to determine changes in surface reflectivity of the specimens before and after SB. Surface loss (wear resistance) was measured after SB using optical profilometry. The effects of material, surface treatment, and SB on all surface characteristics were examined with two-way and three-way analysis of variance models (ANOVA) (α = 0.05). The polished compression-molded group had significantly higher surface hardness than all other groups. The protective glaze coating significantly increased the surface hardness for all groups (P < 0.001). SB increased the surface roughness of all groups regardless of surface treatments (P < 0.001). The increase in surface roughness after SB was significantly higher with polished surface treatment than with a glazed surface treatment in all groups (P < 0.001). Surface gloss was significantly higher with the glazed surface treatment than with the polished surface treatment for all denture base materials (P < 0.001). After SB, milled denture base material showed the highest, and 3D-printed material showed the second highest surface gloss compared to the other groups (P < 0.001), regardless of surface treatment. In all materials tested, surface glaze significantly decreased surface loss (P < 0.001). With the glaze surface treatment, compression-molded denture base material had significantly less surface loss (more surface gain) than other materials, while with the polished surface treatment, 3D-printed denture base material had the least surface loss when compared with other groups. A single layer of nano-filled, light-polymerizing protective glaze coating has displayed potential for enhancing the longevity of denture base materials, as evidenced by increased hardness and wear resistance. Following simulated brushing, the milled denture material exhibited the highest surface gloss and lowest surface roughness among all groups, regardless of the surface treatment protocol. This indicates that milled denture base material possesses favorable surface properties and may serve as a viable alternative to traditional denture base materials.

Comparison of the Surface Roughness of CAD/CAM Metal-Free Materials Used for Complete-Arch Implant-Supported Prostheses: An In Vitro Study.

The roughness of the intra-oral surfaces significantly influences the initial adhesion and the retention of microorganisms. The aim of this study was to analyze the surface texture of four different CAD-CAM materials (two high-performance polymers and two fifth-generation zirconia) used for complete-arch implant-supported prostheses (CAISPs), and to investigate the effect of artificial aging on their roughness. A total of 40 milled prostheses were divided into 4 groups (n = 10) according to their framework material, bio.HPP (B), bio.HPP Plus (BP), zirconia Luxor Z Frame (ZF), and Luxor Z True Nature (ZM). The areal surface roughness "Sa" and the maximum height "Sz" of each specimen was measured on the same site after laboratory fabrication (lab as-received specimen) and after thermocycling (5-55 °C, 10,000 cycles) by using a noncontact optical profilometer. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 28.0.1. One-way ANOVA with multiple comparison tests (p = 0.05) and repeated measures ANOVA were used. After thermocycling, all materials maintained "Sa" values at the laboratory as-received specimen level (p = 0.24). "Sz" increased only for the zirconia groups (p = 0.01). B-BP exhibited results equal/slightly better than ZM-ZF. This study provides more realistic surface texture values of new metal-free materials used in real anatomical CAISPs after the manufacturing and aging processes and establishes a detailed and reproducible measurement workflow.

A detailed study of short fatigue crack directions for carbon steel specimens with circular holes subject to cyclic biaxial loads

The effect of notches and biaxial fatigue loading on the crack paths was studied in detail for thin-walled tube specimens with a passing-through hole, paying special attention to the short-crack period. The study was focused on the high cycle fatigue regime. The material was a carbon steel and the tests were under load control, at Rσ=−1. The crack initiation point on the notch surface and the crack direction were studied with an optical microscope on the specimen outer surface and with a scanning electron microscope and a non-contact 3D optical profilometer on the fracture surface. The crack direction was analyzed for several crack lengths, ranging from the length of one average grain to the length of twenty average grains, all lengths within the short-crack regime, in order to carefully observe the evolution of the crack direction in the Stage I and during the transition from Stage I to Stage II. A statistical analysis of the crack initiation point and the experimental crack directions was carried out. In general, the crack initiation point was close to the maximum principal stress point. The crack direction during the first grains was approximately the Mode I direction. There was no initiation in Mode II. The crack continued in the Mode I direction as it got longer, within the short-crack period. The experimental fatigue limits were compared with the predictions calculated with two models from the literature. The direction of the straight lines used by the models to make the predictions were compared with the average crack directions measured experimentally. The goodness of the models, not only from the point of view of the fatigue limit value prediction but also from the closeness of the direction of the line used for the prediction to the experimental crack direction, was discussed.

Effect of acid pickling treatment of stainless steel substrate on adhesion strength of electrodeposited copper coatings using non-cyanide electrolyte

In recent years, copper-based antimicrobial coatings have gained popularity in healthcare and public recreation facilities. The morphology, topography, and adhesion strength are decisive properties for copper coatings to have long-term antimicrobial effectiveness in hospital environments. This work explores the effect of multistage acid pickling treatment of AISI 304 stainless steel substrate on the adhesion strength of the copper coating. The copper coating was obtained by electrodeposition using an alkaline non-cyanide electrolyte. After the fourth stage of acid pickling, the copper coating had an excellent adhesion strength, up to 9 MPa. Glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES) examination revealed no oxide scales or other contaminants on the SS surface after the fourth (final) stage of acid pickling. Using a non-contact optical profilometer, it was observed that the roughness of the substrate increased with each stage of the pickling treatment. The surface topography analysis confirms the increased density of the interlocking sites, which favors the adhesion of the coating. On the other hand, the microstructure of the copper coating showed a cauliflower-like morphology with an average nodule size of 28 nm. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the coatings have nano-scaled crystallites with internal twins inside the grains of copper coatings.

Evaluation of enamel wear by 3 occlusal splint materials: An in vitro study

Statement of problemOcclusal devices used to manage bruxism have been commonly fabricated from polymethyl methacrylate with the powder-liquid technique. More recently, Vertex ThermoSens (VTS) and the biocompatible high-performance polymer (BioHPP), an optimized material having polyetheretherketone (PEEK) as its basis, have been used, but little is known about the wear of these materials on human enamel. PurposeThe purpose of this in vitro study was to assess via a mastication simulation test how 3 occlusal device materials affected the wear and roughness of enamel antagonists. Material and methodsA noncontact 3D optical profilometer was used to measure the enamel surface roughness (Ra) against 3 occlusal device materials: vertex regular, VTS, and PEEK high-performance polymer (BioHPP). A dual-axis mastication simulator was used to perform a 2-body wear test on specimens from each group. The test consisted of 10 000 cycles with a 70-N force and 5 to 55 °C thermocycling. Following simulated mastication, the weight of each specimen and the Ra change were compared with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, paired specimens t test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and 1-way analysis of variance (α=.05). ResultsThe polyamide group caused the lowest amount of enamel wear (P<.05), while the heat-polymerized acrylic resin group induced the largest amount of enamel wear (P<.05). For polyamide and PEEK, the change in enamel surface roughness exhibited a smooth texture, whereas it found a rougher surface for the heat-polymerized acrylic resin. ConclusionsAccording to this study, surface roughness and wear on human enamel were not correlated. PEEK is a promising material for the fabrication of occlusal devices.

Effect of acidic saliva on monomer leaching and surface roughness of 3D-printed and milled denture-base materials

The study evaluated the effect of different acidic salivary pH values on monomer leaching and surface roughness of conventional and CAD/CAM processed (milled and 3D-printed) denture base materials. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the quantity of residual methyl methacrylate monomer leaching after 30 days of immersion in acidic saliva. The surface roughness (Ra) before and after incubation was recorded using a non-contact optical profilometer. The monomer leaching and the surface roughness of the tested materials depended on the pH value of the saliva. The conventional denture framework material exhibited the highest and lowest leaching rates at pH=4.5 and pH=3.5, respectively, regardless of the treatment method. Among the CAD/CAM processed materials, the 3D-printed material showed the highest and lowest leaching at pH=5.5 and pH=3.5, respectively. Regardless of the pH, roughness after incubation was the lowest for conventional materials, and the highest for 3D printing.

Implant Surface Topography Following Different Laser Treatments: An In Vitro Study.

Background Although dental implants have demonstrated very high success rates, they are susceptible to complications such as peri-implantitis that can lead to failure. Methods Twenty implants with surfaces grit-blasted using hydroxyapatite and acid-etched were randomly divided into four groups (five in each group). Three groups were assigned to laser treatments: Group I (erbium, chromium-doped: yttrium, scandium, gallium, and garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser), Group II (650-nm diode laser), and Group III (808-nm diode), and one control group, Group IV. The surface roughness parameters (roughness average(Ra) and root mean square roughness(Rq)) were measured using a non-contact optical profilometer and scanning electron microscope to evaluate the surface topography after the laser treatments. Results Significant differences were observed between thelaser groups regarding the surface roughness Ra (3.56±0.26, 3.45±0.19, 3.77±0.42, pc=0.0004, pe=0.0002, pf=0.001) and Rq values (4.49±0.34, 4.35±0.26, 4.72±0.56, pc=0.0007, pe=0.0006, pf=0.002) and the control group(2.81±0.10; 3.57±0.19). However, no significant difference was observed between the different laser treatment modalities. The scanning electron microscope images revealed some morphological changes on the implant surfaces following laser treatment, but no melted morphology was observed. Conclusions The application of Er,Cr:YSGG, 650-nm diode laser, and 808-nm diode did not show melting changes on implant topography. However, some increase in surface roughness was detected. Further studies are recommended to assess the effectiveness of these laser settings onbacterial reduction and osseointegration.

Effect of thermal expansion on the high temperature wear resistance of Ni-20%Cr detonation spray coating on IN718 substrate

The temperature-dependent materials properties on the dry sliding wear resistance of the detonation sprayed Ni-20%Cr coating have been studied. In-situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD) was used to investigate high-temperature properties such as stress relieving, recrystallization, and thermal expansion. The dry sliding wear test was performed by using a ball-on-disc tribometer by sliding velocities (0.1 m/s), varying loads (6 N and 10 N), and temperatures (25 °C and 850 °C) against alumina (Al2O3) ball. The phase evolution, thermal expansion, crystallite size, and lattice strain were determined by the Williamson-Hall method. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and a non-contact optical profilometer was used to characterize the wear scar and calculate the wear rate. The wear test results demonstrated that the as-deposited coatings coefficient of friction (CoF) and wear rate (ω) continuously decreased as the temperature increased. The primary wear mechanism changed from abrasive and surface fatigue to adhesive and oxidative wear. The impact of stress relieving, recrystallization, and forming a composite tribolayer (Cr2O3, NiO) at elevated temperatures reduced the friction and enhanced the wear resistance. The effect of stress relieving, recrystallization, thermal expansion, and oxidation on the wear resistance of the coating has been discussed with a suitable mechanism.

Influences of Different CAD/CAM Ceramic Compositions and Thicknesses on the Mechanical Properties of Ceramic Restorations: An In Vitro Study.

The aim of this study was to assess the influences of different CAD/CAM ceramic compositions and thicknesses on the surface roughness and hardness of ceramic restorations. Four different ceramics were used in the current study: lithium disilicate (LD), leucite reinforced (LE), advanced lithium disilicate (ALD), and zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS). Each group included 30 specimens subdivided into three different ceramic thicknesses (0.5, 1 and 1.5 mm thicknesses). The microhardness was measured for all the specimens using a microhardness testing machine, while the surface roughness was measured using a non-contact optical profilometer at three intervals (before toothbrushing and after toothbrushing, with and without toothpaste). Three-way and two-way ANOVA were used to determine the factors influencing the surface roughness and microhardness. There was a significant difference in the surface roughness between the studied groups for all the thicknesses. The findings showed that ALD had the lowest surface roughness, while ZLS showed the highest surface roughness. Moreover, ALD, followed by ZLS, had the highest hardness, while LD and LE had the lowest hardness values. Regarding the thicknesses, both the 0.5 and 1 mm ceramic thicknesses showed a significantly lower surface roughness than the 1.5 mm thickness, while the 1.5 mm thickness showed a significantly higher microhardness than the 0.5 mm thickness. The surface roughness and hardness were significantly affected by the ceramic composition and type of filler. It is recommended to use 1.5 mm-thick ceramic materials for the fabrication of definitive full-coverage ceramic restorations, while veneers require 0.5 mm-thick materials. ALD is a promising CAD/CAM material that can be used for the fabrication of restorations with a proper strength in both anterior and posterior regions.

Surface Roughness and Hardness of CAD/CAM Ceramic Materials after Polishing with a Multipurpose Polishing Kit: An In Vitro Study.

This article evaluates the effect of multipurpose polishing kit on surface roughness and hardness of three computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) ceramic materials at different polishing durations. Weight changes of the polishing bur were also determined. Three CAD/CAM ceramic materials were lithium disilicate glass ceramic (IPS e.max CAD), translucent zirconia (VITA YZ), and zirconia-reinforced lithium disilicate ceramic (Celtra Duo). Ceramics were ground with a diamond bur, and polished with the multipurpose polishing kit (Eve Diacera HP), which comprises coarse and fine polishing burs. Surface roughness value (Ra) was measured using a noncontact optical profilometer (n = 10 per group) after grinding and every 15 seconds of coarse and fine polishing until 60 seconds. The complete polishing Ra was compared with the lab as-received specimens and human enamel. Surface morphology was examined using a scanning electron microscope after 60-second coarse and fine polishing and compared with the lab as-received specimens. Hardness was measured using a Vickers hardness tester on the lab as-received specimens and after the final polishing process (n = 4 per group). Changes in surface roughness and polishing bur weight of each material were analyzed using one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and dependent t-test. One-way ANOVA was used to detect differences in surface roughness, Vickers hardness, and bur weight among materials within the same polishing duration (α = 0.05). From grinding to complete polishing, the greatest Ra reduction was found in VITA YZ, followed by Celtra Duo and IPS e.max CAD. Final Ra values of all ceramics after 60-second fine polishing were not significantly different, and were similar to that of enamel and lab as-received specimens. Vickers hardness of ceramic materials did not change after grinding and polishing. Coarse polishing bur demonstrated the highest weight loss after polishing VITA YZ, followed by Celtra Duo and IPS e.max CAD. The multipurpose polishing kit reduced surface roughness of CAD/CAM ceramic materials to the similar level of the lab as-received specimen and enamel regardless of material's hardness. The reductions of surface roughness and a coarse polishing bur weight were highest in VITA YZ, followed by Celtra Duo and IPS e.max CAD.

INFLUENCE OF BLOOD CONTAMINATION ON SURFACE CHANGES OF MINERAL TRIOXIDE AGGREGATE AND BIODENTINE

The biological environment is crucial for the bioactivity of modern calcium-silicate cements. Most of the studies of the materials were performed under ideal conditions, which are difficult to achieve in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surface characteristics of MTA+ (PPH Cerkamed, Medical company, Polish) and Biodentine in PBS and blood environments with a non-contact 3D optical profilometer Materials and methods: Retrograde cavities were prepared on the root surfaces of freshly extracted teeth. The cavities were filled with MTA+ or Biodentine, and the samples were immersed in PBS or Blood and placed in an incubator for 28 days. The surface of each specimen was scanned using a 3D optical profilometer at three different time points (1, 3, and 28 days). Statistical calculations were carried out using IBM SPSS Statistics (v.25), and significance was fixed at p &lt;0.05. Results: Both materials showed that blood contamination affects the roughness of their surface. Both materials placed in blood contaminated conditions show reduced and constant roughness during the reported time periods (p&gt; 0.05). This study showed that the surface roughness of MTA+ and Biodentine was adversely affected by blood pollution.

Linear and areal surface roughness assessments for the study of tooth wear in human enamel.

To test 8 models of linear surface roughness assessment in characterizing surface profile description and to correlate these models with equivalent areal parameters over sound human enamel in vitro. Thirty enamel blocks were randomly selected. The roughness data (2D-Rp; Rv; Rz; Rc; Rt; Ra; Rq; Rsk; Rku/3D-Sp; Sv; Sz; Sa; Sq; Ssk; Sku) was obtained in duplicate in a non-contact 3D optical profilometer. The models were composed by 1 single vertical trace (model 1) until 8 traces (model 8 composed by three vertical traces, three horizontal traces, and two diagonal). The addition of linear sampling traces to the enamel blocks did not result in Rp, Rv, Rz, Rc, Rt, Ra, Rq, Rsk, and Rku value changes (low power-from 5 to 72%). Significant Spearman's correlation coefficients were obtained in most correlation analysis (Rp ↔ Sp; Rv ↔ Sv; Rz ↔ Sz; Ra ↔ Sa; Rq ↔ Sq; and Rku ↔ Sku). A single vertical trace in the middle of the sample was representative of the overall enamel surface roughness (Rp, Rv, Rz, Rc, Rt, Ra, Rq, Rsk, and Rku) models. The majority of the assessed models in the correlation evaluation presented significant and positive association. The findings highlight the applicable model for roughness analysis over human enamel recommended for research and in situ trials assessments.

Towards support-free design for 3D printing of thin-walled composite based on stratified manufacturability reinforcement

This paper presents a towards support-free design method for 3D printing (3DP) of thin-walled composite based on stratified manufacturability reinforcement (SMR). The thickness classification is carried out on manifold structure to describe probability distribution via probabilistic statistical approaches. The fundamentals of composite materials for functional requirements are introduced for hereafter transient thermal structure coupling calculation. Afterwards, to accomplish 3DP electromechanical servo motion, a mechanical equipment, namely dexterous robot with multi-axis degrees of freedom (DOFs) platform is schematically implemented. Thereout, the towards support-free design model is established likewise at different stratifications, by increasing the DOFs and reachable posture space, for the sake of support diminution. The lightweight ribbed specimens are taken as numerical examples to minimize the support quantitatively of each stratified layer, by investigating the effect of density and accessible workspace on external support amount. The temperature, deformation of both noncomposite and composite during 3DP are compared so as to confirm the manufacturability using Finite element analysis (FEA). The physical experiment is conducted with emphasis on infrared temperature distribution, tensile strength and non-contact optical profilometer where the external support can be evaluated quantitatively by electronic weighing balance. The test results proved that the proposed SMR method can improve the overall manufacturability, by virtue of towards support-free design, owing to considering both composite material properties and machine multi-axis dexterity, even under stringent multiple constraints of high strength and high precision.

Experimental Investigations and Multi-Response Optimization of Dynamic Magnetic Field-Assisted Electrochemical Spark Drilling Using Grey Relational Analysis

Magnetic field-assisted electrochemical spark drilling (MA-ECSD) is a cost-effective triplex hybrid machining technique that has been developed to enhance the machining depth and surface roughness of insulated and hard-to-scribe materials. The study presented adopts a reformed approach for creation of dynamic magnetic field during drilling of Sodalime glass where a 34 AWG copper wire coiled electromagnet has been installed in the in-house designed and fabricated setup of MA-ECSD. The experimental plan is based on Box–Behnken design (BBD) of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and significance of parameters is determined using ANOVA. Multi-objective optimization (MOO) is performed by applying Grey Relational Analysis (GRA). A noncontact optical profilometer measures the machining depths and surface roughness of drilled holes. The installed electromagnet generated dynamic magnetic field intensity (MFI) ranging between 0.00 and 0.18 Tesla. Preliminary experiments were conducted to select and set the range of input parameters. Significant effect of voltage, NaOH concentration and MFI on machining depth and surface roughness is found and optimal parameter settings obtained are 24[Formula: see text]V, 30[Formula: see text]wt% and 0.09 Tesla. Machining depth increased by about 13.03% with rise in voltage-NaOH concentration and surface roughness improved by 25.3% with elevation in voltage-MFI. Dynamic MFI generated from electromagnet helped in smooth motion of electrolyte in the fine space amidst cathode and glass slide due to magnetohydrodynamic effect (MHD) which resulted in enhanced machining depth and surface roughness. The experimental and predicted results obtained after confirmatory test are appreciable which is evident from SEM images and images obtained from Optical profilometer.

Non-toxic self-cleaning large area cement blocks fabrication by biomimicking superhydrophobic periwinkle flowers

Self-cleaning superhydrophobic cement based surfaces are predominantly fabricated by functionalization of either superhydrophilic micro/nano powders or their structural components with toxic chemicals (alkylsilanes, perfluoropolyethers). In this article, a non-toxic, scalable and cost-effective fabrication colloidal lithography approach is reported to prepare superhydrophobic cement surfaces. This study will firstly report the discovery of superhydrophobicity in Periwinkle flowers, followed by biomimicking their surface micro-conical textures on the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and cement surfaces. The protruding micro-cones possess average height of 15 ± 2 µm, bottom diameter of 12 ± 2 µm and pitch of 20 ± 4 µm. The Wenzel roughness of the petals measured by a 3D non-contact optical profilometer is 2.3 ± 0.12. The water static contact angle (SCA) on the petals is 148 ± 2°, roll-off angle (RA) is 13 ± 1° and contact angle hysteresis (CAH) is 12 ± 3° demonstrating quasi-superhydrophobicity. A key highlight is the development of textured cement and PDMS surfaces of up to 152 cm2 areas starting from 2.25 cm2 areas of petals, i.e. achieving ∼ 68 times bigger areas as compared to that of the master templates. The textured PDMS surfaces exhibited superhydrophobicity displaying SCA of 156 ± 2°, CAH of 9 + 1° and RA of 10 ± 1°, while the textured cement surfaces exhibited a transition from superhydrophilicity to quasi- superhydrophobicity with SCA of 147 ± 2°, CAH of 16 + 3° and RA of 17 ± 3°. The rolling water droplets took away the mud particles demonstrating self-cleaning ability. This study showcases an environmentally sustainable solution to prevent water leakages in the cement-based constructions and can be easily adapted by the non-specialist users.

Surface Characteristics and Adhesion of Veneering Composite Resin to PAEK-Based Substructure Restorative Materials.

To evaluate and compare the shear bond strength (SBS) of composite veneering material to polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), zirconia (YZ), and nickel-chromium alloy (NiCr) substructure restorative materials. Forty samples (12 × 2 mm) were prepared from four materials: PEKK, PEEK, zirconia, and NiCr alloy (n = 10). The Vickers hardness was evaluated before preparing the surface for bonding by shot-blasting using 110 μm Al2 O3 particles. The surface roughness (Ra) of each sample was determined using a noncontact optical profilometer. The veneering resin was bonded onto each sample following primer application. The prepared samples were then subjected to an SBS test using a universal testing machine at 0.5 mm/min crosshead speed. Failure modes and surface topography following debonding were assessed. The data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey'spost-hoccomparison test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The highest and lowest mean surface roughness was observed in PEEK (3.45 ±0.13 μm) and NiCr (1.87 ±0.07 μm) materials, respectively. A significant difference in roughness values was observed between the materials except for NiCr and YZ (p = 0.547). Concerning SBS, PEEK and NiCr exhibited the highest (16.23 ±0.96 MPa) and lowest (10.1 ±0.63 MPa) values. The mean difference in SBS indicated a statistically significant difference between the material groups (p < 0.01). PEKK materials demonstrated significantly lower SBS than PEEK and significantly higher SBS values than conventional zirconia and alloy materials. A positive and significant correlation between mean roughness and SBS was observed, but the causality could be either intrinsic to the material or the roughness.

Effects of diamond-like carbon coating on frictional and mechanical properties of orthodontic brackets: An in vitro study

Objectives: The aim of this study is to apply a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating on orthodontic brackets and to examine the effects of the coating on surface properties and friction. Material and Methods: 0.022-inch upper right canine brackets, 0.018-inch stainless steel wires, and 0.019 × 0.025-inch stainless steel wires were used in the study. Half of the brackets were treated with physical vapor deposition technique and coated with DLC. Different binary groups constituted of coated and uncoated brackets and wires were subjected to friction experiments using the Instron universal testing machine (Instron, Norwood, MA, USA). The surface properties of the coatings were evaluated using Raman, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and non-contact optical profilometer. Results: The friction force values between the DLC-coated brackets and the stainless-steel wires in both dimensions were found to be statistically significantly lower than the friction force between the uncoated brackets and the wires (P &lt; 0.001). The surface roughness value, especially around the slot groove decreased significantly in the coated brackets (P &lt; 0.05). DLC coating layer thickness is approximately 1.0 μm (806 nanometers). Conclusion: DLC coating improves the surface properties of orthodontic brackets, and DLC coating process remarkably reduced the friction force.