Surface Microroughness Research Articles

The Development of Limestone Weathering Rind in a Proglacial Environment of the Hallstätter Glacier

The contemporary retreat of glaciers results in the development of glacial forelands which constitute excellent areas for studies on the initial stages of weathering. This research concentrates on weathering rinds developed on glacially abraded Dachstein limestone surfaces (Eastern Alps) liberated from glacial ice since LIA (mid-19th century). We performed measurements of rock surface micro-roughness and strength (Schmidt hammer), spectral reflectance, and petrographic and microbiological analyses in SEM. There was a time-dependent increase in micro-roughness, decrease in rock strength and decrease in spectral reflectivity, but only within visual light. Rock surfaces on older sites reflected infrared radiation significantly better than younger ones. SEM analysis revealed that angular micro-structures inherited from glacial abrasion dominated in younger sites, eventually giving way to more rounded micro-structures. The structure of rock (micrite versus spar, phlogopite veinlets, etc.) plays a significant role. On older sites, microorganisms were detected within the studied weathering rinds, which probably results in better infrared reflectivity. We advocate the potential role of microorganisms (mainly heterotrophic) in the dissolution of limestone, and the role of cyanobacteria in the formation of the secondary porous limestone layer (extracellular biomineralization).

Modulation of MG-63 Osteogenic Response on Mechano-Bactericidal Micronanostructured Titanium Surfaces.

Despite recent advances in the development of orthopedic devices, implant-related failures that occur as a result of poor osseointegration and nosocomial infection are frequent. In this study, we developed a multiscale titanium (Ti) surface topography that promotes both osteogenic and mechano-bactericidal activity using a simple two-step fabrication approach. The response of MG-63 osteoblast-like cells and antibacterial activity toward Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria was compared for two distinct micronanoarchitectures of differing surface roughness created by acid etching, using either hydrochloric acid (HCl) or sulfuric acid (H2SO4), followed by hydrothermal treatment, henceforth referred to as either MN-HCl or MN-H2SO4. The MN-HCl surfaces were characterized by an average surface microroughness (Sa) of 0.8 ± 0.1 μm covered by blade-like nanosheets of 10 ± 2.1 nm thickness, whereas the MN-H2SO4 surfaces exhibited a greater Sa value of 5.8 ± 0.6 μm, with a network of nanosheets of 20 ± 2.6 nm thickness. Both micronanostructured surfaces promoted enhanced MG-63 attachment and differentiation; however, cell proliferation was only significantly increased on MN-HCl surfaces. In addition, the MN-HCl surface exhibited increased levels of bactericidal activity, with only 0.6% of the P. aeruginosa cells and approximately 5% S. aureus cells remaining viable after 24 h when compared to control surfaces. Thus, we propose the modulation of surface roughness and architecture on the micro- and nanoscale to achieve efficient manipulation of osteogenic cell response combined with mechanical antibacterial activity. The outcomes of this study provide significant insight into the further development of advanced multifunctional orthopedic implant surfaces.

Quality assurance of stereolithography based biocompatible materials for dental applications

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is increasingly being used in healthcare sectors for its potential to fabricate patient-specific customized implants, and specifically in dentistry, AM finds its applications in maxillofacial implants, dentures, and other prosthetic aids. However, in most applications, AM is largely being used for prototyping purposes. The full-scale realization of AM can only be achieved if the downsides of AM are addressed and resolved. Hence this paper focuses on providing a detailed analysis of surface quality, dimensional accuracy, and mechanical properties of the biocompatible material produced, using the Stereolithography (SLA) method for a dental application. For quality analysis, test artefacts were produced, and the quality was assessed before and after the sterilization process. The results suggest that micro-surface roughness essential for cell growth is similar for all build inclinations and well within the control limit required for effective bone regeneration. Multi-scale surface characterization revealed that the sterilization process involving heat can potentially alter the micro-roughness features of resin-based materials. The results from the dimensional analysis show that the SLA parts produced had negligible dimensional deviations from the CAD model to the printed parts and were unaffected by the sterilization process. The tensile test results suggest that the part orientation does not affect the tensile strength and that the sterilization process seems to have an insignificant effect on the tensile properties of the SLA parts. Furthermore, the results were validated by producing a membrane barrier for Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR). The validation results showed that excess resin entrapment was due to the geometrical design of the membrane barrier. In conclusion, this paper provides an overview of quality variations that can help in optimizing the AM and sterilization process to suit dental needs.

Enhancing the applicability of gelatin-carboxymethyl cellulose films by cold plasma modification for the preservation of fruits

Cold plasma has been induced in polymer modification, but its influence on the properties of edible coatings in fruit preservation is unclear. In the present study, cold plasma was used to improve the practicability of Gelatin-carboxymethyl cellulose (GCMC). Cold plasma modification decreased the viscosity, cohesiveness, hardness, springiness and surface microroughness of GCMC to make it easy to implement during coating. The FTIR spectrum of cold-plasma-modified GCMC (CP-GCMC) film was like GCMC film with a shift towards lower wave numbers. However, CP-GCMC film exhibited higher water vapor permeability, but lower light transmittance and water solubility than GCMC film. Moreover, CP-GCMC film-coating showed good inhibition efficiency in decay rate, weight loss, respiration rate, fruit browning, and extended shelf lives of blueberry, apple and green walnut. These results indicated that cold plasma modification did not changed chemical structure, but improved the physical, microstructural and food preservation properties of GCMC films. Hence, cold plasma modification can be used as an effective technique to enhance the application and preservation potential of edible coatings.

Laser Cleaning Improves Stem Cell Adhesion on the Dental Implant Surface during Peri-Implantitis Treatment

Dental implant therapy is a well-accepted treatment modality. Despite good predictability and success in the early stages, the risk of postplacement inflammation in the long-term periods remains an urgent problem. Surgical access and decontamination with chemical and mechanical methods are more effective than antibiotic therapy. The search for the optimal and predictable way for peri-implantitis treatment remains relevant. Here, we evaluated four cleaning methods for their ability to preserve the implant's surface for adequate mesenchymal stem cell adhesion and differentiation. Implants isolated after peri-implantitis were subjected to cleaning with diamond bur; Ti-Ni alloy brush, air-flow, or Er,Cr:YSGG laser and cocultured with mice MSC for five weeks. Dental bur and titanium brushes destroyed the implants' surfaces and prevented MSC attachment. Air-flow and laser minimally affected the dental implant surface microroughness, which was initially designed for good cell adhesion and bone remodeling and to provide full microbial decontamination. Anodized with titanium dioxide and sandblasted with aluminum oxide, acid-etched implants appeared to be better for laser treatment. In implants sandblasted with aluminum oxide, an acid-etched surface better preserves its topology when treated with the air-flow. These cleaning methods minimally affect the implant's surface, so it maintains the capability to absorb osteogenic cells for further division and differentiation.

Soft-assembled, bio-gel electrolytic double layer capacitor system for sustainable energy storage

ABSTRACT Carrageenan is an attractive bio-derived polymer electrolyte due to its high ionic conductivity, cyclic stability, and cost-effectiveness in copolymerizing with other biocompatible polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). This paper discusses the physical and chemical characterizations of the bio-electrolyte(s): PVA, carrageenan, and PVA-carrageenan copolymer blend. We also describe a fabrication method to create a soft-printed, thin-film, bio-gel electrolytic double-layer capacitor (bio-EDLC) using a PVA-carrageenan polymer blend. The addition of PVA to carrageenan provided structural and mechanical stability to the biopolymer, as confirmed by the hydrogen bonds detected using attenuated Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. The assembled bio-EDLCs were analyzed for their electrical properties including their internal charge transfer mechanism, electrical breakdown, specific capacitance, power density, and energy density. It was determined that the bio-EDLC offers specific capacitance of 84 F/g and power density of 4.15E-02 W/kg and has a breakdown voltage of ~1.1 V. Furthermore, preliminary optimization was performed on the bio-EDLC with a drop casting of reduced graphene oxide at the electrode/electrolyte interface to create surface micro-roughness resulting in a bio-EDLC system which demonstrated superior electrical characteristics with an overall specific capacitance of up to 118 F/g, breakdown voltage of ~1.3 V, and improved maximum charging capability to 80%.

Enhancement of surface properties of polyetheretherketone implant material by fractional laser texturing

Background: Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a promising implant material due to its superior biomechanical strength. However, due to its hydrophobic nature and lack of cellular adhesion properties, it has poor integration with bone tissue. Methods: A fractional CO2 laser was used with various parameters for surface texturing of PEEK substrate to enhance its surface properties. An optical microscope and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) were used to examine the surface morphology of untextured and laser-textured samples. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was performed to determine the effect of the laser on the microstructure of PEEK. Surface microroughness, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and wettability were investigated. Results: There were significant increases in microroughness, nanoroughness, surface area ratio, and wettability after laser texturing with no change in the elemental composition. The best results were obtained by using 400 µs laser pulse duration with a dot separation distance of 0.2 mm and a 60° staggered dots pattern. Conclusions: Laser surface texturing of PEEK implant material by fractional CO2 laser is an easy and fast method of introducing patterned topographical features with no need for additional devices. With further investigations, this method of PEEK modification might have the potential to be used in the implant field.

Biocompatibility of a Zr-Based Metallic Glass Enabled by Additive Manufacturing.

The present work explored the use of the selective laser melting (SLM) technique to develop a Zr-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) and investigate the influence of the process parameters on obtaining different levels of surface roughness. Moreover, the potential of the additively manufactured BMG Zr59.3Cu28.8Al10.4Nb1.5 (trade name AMLOY-ZR01) as an implant material was studied by evaluating the osteoblastic cell response to the alloy and its stability under simulated biological environments. The materials were characterized in terms of degree of crystallinity, surface roughness, and morphology, followed by a systematic investigation of the response of the MC3T3-E1 preosteoblastic cell line to the as-printed samples. The materials supported cell proliferation and differentiation of the preosteoblastic cells, with results comparable to the reference material Ti-6Al-4V. The surface microroughness and surface morphology (porous or groove-type laser tracks) investigated in this study did not have a significant effect on modulating the cell response. Ion release experiments showed a large increase in ion release under inflammatory conditions as compared to regular physiological conditions, which could be attributed to the increased local corrosion under inflammatory conditions. The findings in this work showed that the surface roughness of the additively manufactured BMG AMLOY-ZR01 can be tailored by controlling the laser power applied during the SLM process. The favorable cell response to the as-printed AMLOY-ZR01 represents of a significant advancement of the investigation of additively manufactured BMGs for orthopedic applications, while the results of the ion release study highlights the effect that inflammatory conditions could have on the degradation of the alloy.

Method for Partial Suppression of a Speckle Pattern under Interferometric Control of Polished Optical Surface Microroughness

Method for Partial Suppression of a Speckle Pattern under Interferometric Control of Polished Optical Surface Microroughness

Optical metrology on primary mirror of visible emission line coronagraph on board Aditya-L1 mission

The visible emission line coronagraph (VELC) on board the Aditya-L1 mission is an internally occulted reflective coronagraph. It is capable of simultaneous observations of the solar corona in imaging, spectroscopic, and spectropolarimetric modes very close to the solar limb, to 1.05 R ⊙ (R ⊙ – solar radius). Primary mirror (M1) of the VELC receives the light from both the solar disk and the corona up to 3 R ⊙ . In the VELC, occultation happens at the focus of the M1. Secondary mirror (M2) with a central hole size equal to 1.05 R ⊙ is mounted at the focal plane of M1 and serves the purpose of an internal occulter. To meet the proposed science goals of the payload, M1 surface should be super polished with good imaging characteristics. This results in stringent requirements of the surface figure and microroughness on the mirror surface. M1 is an off-axis parabola, so achieving the demanding requirements is quite challenging. At the same time, testing of M1 after development is crucial for evaluating its performance. This paper provides the details of the optical metrology tests carried out on M1 along with the results obtained and their implications on the performance of the VELC.

Insights into the micromechanical response of adhesive joint with stochastic surface micro-roughness

Micro-roughness at adhesion surface yields significant influences on the structural behaviour of adhesive joints. Investigations into the micromechanical mechanism are extremely limited. This works developed a novel particle-based model of joints with stochastic microstructural features of roughness, which can capture refined multi-scale responses as first of this kind. Aluminium adherends with mechanical surface treatments were firstly scanned using 3D laser scanning microscope. The statistical features and reconstruction method of micro-roughness profiles were determined. Single lap shear tests on joints made of epoxy adhesive (Loctite EA 9497) and treated aluminium adherends were performed to provide testing data and observations on failure modes. The refined numerical models were subsequently developed to examine the influences of the actual micro-roughness on the micromechanical behaviors and failure mechanism. The mechanical interlocking, mitigation on crack propagation due to the irregular roughness were investigated. It is followed by introducing the reconstructed roughness of various magnitudes and further numerically examining the micromechanical responses by key stochastic parameters such as root mean square roughness and correlation length. The results indicate that the mechanical interlocking contribute more to enhancing the joint strength than the increase of adhesion area by micro-roughness. A rougher surface in either horizontal or vertical directions does not exhibit a consistent improvement of joint strength, which also depends on the threshold of roughness and the surface skewness triggering the transition of failure modes.

The Abrasive and Remineralising Efficacy of Coturnix Eggshell

The objective of this research was to determine the abrasive and remineralising efficacy of quail eggshell (Coturnix coturnix) incorporated into a new experimental toothpaste. An experimental study was designed to compare the surface microhardness of the dental enamel of bovine lateral incisors exposed to different toothpastes. In relation to microroughness (abrasive efficiency), the unit of analysis was each specimen with 16 polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) blocks. For the remineralisation variable, the unit of analysis was each bovine lateral incisor tooth. A sample size of 16 was determined for each group. The unpolished PMMA specimens presented the highest mean surface microroughness with a mean of 4.60 ± 1.47 µm, whilst the quail paste, universal polishing paste, control paste, and Diamond Excel Paste showed a mean of 1.16 ± 0.40 µm, 0.63 ± 024 µm, 0.45 ± 0.22 µm, and 0.43 ± 0.17 µm, respectively, presenting significant differences (P < .001). When comparing the surface microhardness of bovine lateral incisor dental enamel exposed to different toothpastes, the universal polishing paste presented the lowest microhardness, with 192.43 ± 56.21 kg/mm2, whilst the quail paste presented the greatest remineralising effect, with the highest average of 272 ± 21.18 kg/mm2, followed by the control paste with 244 ± 41.43 kg/mm2 and the Diamond Excel Paste with 228.72 ± 43.72 kg/mm2. These differences were statistically significant (P < .001). Significant differences were found in the surface abrasive efficiency (microroughness) of PMMA subjected to different toothpastes. The quail toothpaste presented statistically significant results compared to the control pastes, the Diamond Excel Paste, and the universal polishing paste.

Effects of Different Titanium Surface Treatments on Adhesion, Proliferation and Differentiation of Bone Cells: An In Vitro Study.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of different sandblasting procedures in acid etching of Ti6Al4V surfaces on osteoblast cell behavior, regarding various physicochemical and topographical parameters. Furthermore, differences in osteoblast cell behavior between cpTi and Ti6Al4V SA surfaces were evaluated. Sandblasting and subsequent acid etching of cpTi and Ti6Al4V discs was performed with Al2O3 grains of different sizes and with varying blasting pressures. The micro- and nano-roughness of the experimental SA surfaces were analyzed via confocal, atomic force and scanning electron microscopy. Surface free energy and friction coefficients were determined. hFOB 1.19 cells were seeded to evaluate adhesion, proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation for up to 12 d via crystal violet assays, MTT assays, ALP activity assays and Alizarin Red staining assays. Differences in blasting procedures had significant impacts on surface macro- and micro-topography. The crystal violet assay revealed a significant inverse relationship between blasting grain size and hFOB cell growth after 7 days. This trend was also visible in the Alizarin Red assays staining after 12 d: there was significantly higher biomineralization visible in the group that was sandblasted with smaller grains (F180) when compared to standard-grain-size groups (F70). SA samples treated with reduced blasting pressure exhibited lower hFOB adhesion and growth capabilities at initial (2 h) and later time points for up to 7 days, when compared to the standard SA surface, even though micro-roughness and other relevant surface parameters were similar. Overall, etched-only surfaces consistently exhibited equivalent or higher adhesion, proliferation and differentiation capabilities when compared to all other sandblasted and etched surfaces. No differences were found between cpTi and Ti6Al4V SA surfaces. Subtle modifications in the blasting protocol for Ti6Al4V SA surfaces significantly affect the proliferative and differentiation behavior of human osteoblasts. Surface roughness parameters are not sufficient to predict osteoblast behavior on etched Ti6Al4V surfaces.

Optimization of hydroxyapatite powder mixed electric discharge machining process to improve modified surface features of 316L stainless steel

Traditional methods for producing 316L steel with a desired roughness and a uniform thin coating for sufficient bioactivity and long-term durability are highly difficult and require post-processing. Electric discharge machining (EDM) is a nontraditional process that can accomplish both machining and coating the surface concurrently. This study provides a thorough examination of the impacts of EDM process parameters on the machining responses, which are significantly necessary for processing 316L steel to reach its full potential. The nano-hydroxyapatite particles added EDM method is used to improve the machining and the surface responses. EDM process parametric optimization is conducted using Taguchi's design to achieve the lowest surface roughness of 2.04 µm and a recast layer thickness of 6.11 µm. As a machinability metric, the greatest material erosion rate (MER) of 20.64 mg/min is achieved. Current intensity, discharge period and hydroxyapatite amount are identified to be important predictors for MER, surface roughness and recast layer thickness. Scanning electron microscope with the energy dispersive X-ray spectrums and atomic force microscopic images validate the machined surface morphology, elemental compositions and surface topography. Errors of the confirmatory tests are less than 10%, showing that the projected solution sets by the grey wolf optimizer are highly accurate. The study shows a thin recast layer with both nano and micro-surface roughness formation, which have a great importance in biomedical applications.

Applicability of the landscape evolution model in the absence of rills

Despite numerous applications of physically-based models for incised landscapes, their applicability for overland flow on unchanneled surfaces is not known. This work challenges a widely used landscape evolution model for the case of non-uniform rainfall and absence of rills using laboratory flume experiment. Rainfall with an average intensity of 85 mm h−1 was applied for 16 h during which high resolution laser scans of the morphology were captured. The overland flow was modeled as a network that preserves the water flux for each cell in the discretized domain. This network represented the gravity-driven surface flow and determined the evolution direction. The model was calibrated using the first 8 h of the experiment and was then used to predict the second 8 h. The calibrated model predicted, as expected, a smoother surface morphology (and less detailed overland flow network) than that measured. This difference resulted from quenched randomness (e.g., small pebbles) within the experimental soil that emerged during erosion and that were captured by the laser scans. To investigate the quality of the prediction, a low-pass filter was applied to remove the small-scale variability of the surface morphology. This step confirmed that the model simulations captured the main characteristics of the measured morphology. The experimental results were found to satisfy a scaling relation for the exceedance probability of discharge even in absence of rills. However, the model did not reproduce the experimental scaling relation as the detailed surface micro-roughness was not accounted for by the model. A lower cutoff on the scale of applicability of the general landscape evolution equation is thus suggested, complementing other work on the upper cutoff underpinned by runoff-producing areas.

The Effect of Dentifrice on Micro-Hardness, Surface Gloss, and Micro-Roughness of Nano Filled Conventional and Bulk-Fill Polymer Composite-A Micro Indentation and Profilometric Study.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of brushing with two whitening dentifrices (Colgate Optic White (COW) and Colgate Optic White Charcoal (COC)) on surface gloss, micro-roughness, and micro-hardness of nanostructured hybrid conventional (Z350) and bulk-fill (Tetric N Ceram bulk-fill) polymer composite. In total, 96 disk samples using two nano-hybrid composite polymers (Z350 and Tetric N Ceram Bulk-fill) were prepared. All specimens were exposed to two different dentifrices (COW and COC), resulting in four main subgroups in the study. Specimens were assessed for surface gloss, micro-roughness (Ra), and micro-hardness using standardized methodology. Means and standard deviations of properties compared using paired t-test, one-way and two-way ANOVA, and post hoc test. The presence of dentifrices did not show any significant difference in micro-hardness values of Z350 (p > 0.05), whereas micro-hardness of bulk-fill composite significantly reduced on dentifrices exposure (p ≤ 0.05). Bulk-fill polymer composite showed significant reduction in gloss after dentifrice exposure (p < 0.05), however, Z350 showed no significant loss of gloss due to dentifrices (p > 0.05). A significant increase in Ra was observed for both resin materials after exposure to dentifrices (COC and COW). Conventional resin composite (Z350) showed comparable surface hardness and gloss before and after dentifrice exposure, however, micro-roughness increased significantly due to dentifrice exposure. Bulk-fill resin (Tetric N Ceram) showed significant loss of micro-hardness and gloss and increase in micro-roughness on dentifrice exposure. Conventional nano-hybrid composite polymer showed better durability in resisting loss of surface properties compared to bulk-fill resin polymer in the present experiment.

Improving the quality of antifriction coatings using plastic deformation

One of the ways to solve the shortage of anti-friction materials based on copper is the creation of anti-friction coatings on the surface of parts made from domestic raw materials. The technology of applying anti-friction coatings by finishing anti-friction non-abrasive treatment on the working surfaces of cast-iron products is considered. The use of deforming broaching to improve the quality of the antifriction coating is proposed. The reserves for their improvement due to the creation of favorable shapes and sizes of microroughnesses in the operations preceding the coating are determined. The study of the contact interaction of the microroughness of the machined surface with the tool was carried out on model samples. The main regularities of the formation of an antifriction coating on a cast-iron surface are established depending on the initial microrelief and processing modes. The effectiveness of the use of deforming broaching when applying an antifriction coating is studied by changing the height parameter of roughness. The performed studies allowed us to propose various schemes of the technological process of applying anti-friction coatings by the friction-mechanical method using deforming broaching, depending on the technical requirements for the product.

Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Macrophage Polarization on 3D-Printed Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) Blended Scaffolds with Different Secondary Porous Structures.

This study was aimed to evaluate the chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and polarization of THP-1-derived macrophages cultured on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PC)/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PH) blended scaffolds with dual primary (PP) and secondary (SP) pores, which were fabricated via a 3D printing technique, i.e., fused deposition modeling, followed by a salt-leaching process at 50 °C for varied times, i.e., 15, 30, and 60 min. Sodium chloride (SC), a porogen, was initially incorporated in the blend at varied weight percentages, i.e., 0, 25, and 50%, whereas 1 M NaOH solution and deionized water were used as salt-leaching agents. To elucidate the surface properties of the developed scaffolds, directly governed by the amount of the salt originally mixed and the salt-leaching efficiency, several characterization techniques, e.g., scanning electron microscopy, X-ray microcomputed tomography, mercury intrusion porosimetry, atomic force microscopy, and contact angle measurement, were used. Meanwhile, the salt-leaching efficiency was determined by means of weight loss measurement and thermogravimetric analysis. It was found that the alkaline solution could satisfactorily leach out the salt particles in 60 min with a mild etching of the polymer framework. The most immensely and homogeneously pitted filament surface was observed in the NaOH-treated scaffold initially integrated with 50% salt, i.e., 60B_PC/PH/50SC; the SP structure was mostly open and interconnected. The size of most of micropores was about 0.14 μm. With its suitable microsurface roughness and hydrophilicity, 60B_PC/PH/50SC could properly support the initial attachment and lamellipodia formation of hMSCs, which was favorable for chondrogenesis. Consequently, a significantly increased ratio of glycosaminoglycans/deoxyribonucleic acid and a superior expression of the COL2A1 gene were detected when cells were grown on this material. Although 60B_PC/PH/50SC induced the macrophages to secrete a slightly high level of IL-1β during the first few days of culture, the polarized M1 cells could return to a nearly normal stage at Day7, suggesting no unfavorable chronic inflammation caused by the material.

Optical Behavior and Surface Analysis of Dental Resin Matrix Ceramics Related to Thermocycling and Finishing

Color preservation of esthetic dental restorative materials in the oral environment represents, besides longevity, a concern, and there is still limited knowledge related to the effect of aging on the optical behavior of resin matrix ceramics. The study analyzed the finishing and thermocycling of resin matrix ceramic material surfaces, in order to assess their consequences on optical properties. Five resin matrix CAD/CAM ceramics, namely a polymer-infiltrated ceramic and four types of nanoparticle-filled resins, were selected for the study, and finished by polishing and glazing. Thermocycling was chosen as the in vitro aging method. Surface microroughness, optical and hardness evaluations were achieved before and after artificial aging. Statistical analyses were performed with IBM SPSS Statistics software at a significance value of p &lt; 0.05. Micro-roughness values increased after thermocycling, but were kept under the clinically accepted values. The optical characteristics of resin matrix ceramics were not significantly modified by thermocycling. Values of the glazed samples became closer to those of the polished ones, after hydrothermal aging, even if the differences were insignificant. Thermocycling significantly decreased the microhardness, mainly for glazed samples. This could be the consequence of glaze removal during thermocycling, which means that glazes provide a surface protection for a limited time.

Stabilization of the radial clear in the pumping assembly of the supply pump improvement by improving the structure of the slide bearing bushing

The performance of axial-piston hydraulic feed pumps depends on the technical condition of the coupling parts that form a radial gap in the pumping unit of the pump. The dynamics of its growth is largely due to the technical condition of parts that form a radial gap in the plain bearings of the pumping pump assembly: «drive shaft pin - bushing hole», «driven axle pin - bushing hole». Stabilization of a radial backlash in sliding bearings is possible by carrying out constructive improvement of the plug which will provide reduction of a contact angle of surfaces of friction of details in couplings. The aim of the work is to ensure the stabilization of the radial clearance in the pumping unit of the feed pump by developing constructive measures to reduce wear of parts in its plain bearings. From the analysis of the operating conditions of the plain bearing it is established that the reduction of the friction force is possible due to the reduction of the contour pressures and the increase of the area of liquid friction between the surfaces of the parts. Providing such conditions is possible by using combined bushings, which consist of working and guide bushings, between which is installed an elastic damping element in the spherical channels of which are additional compensation springs, which are placed in a circle through . The reduction of the friction force when using a combined sleeve with compensating springs is explained by the formation of the deformation component of the friction force at the vertices of the microroughness of the sleeve surface, as the spring elasticity is 4% less than the modulus of elasticity of the sleeve material. The lower value of the moment of friction forces at the end of the test is due to the constant absorption of vibration loads by the elastic damping element, the elasticity of which is 2% less than the modulus of elasticity of the sleeve material, which also reduces the contact area. The total less wear of the experimental friction pair is due to the reduction of the contact area of the shaft with the sleeve in the area of maximum values of friction forces.