Vickers Microhardness (Vicker + microhardness)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Habit modification and improvement in properties of potassium hydrogen phthalate (KAP) crystals doped with metal ions

CRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
S. K. Geetha
Abstract Potassium hydrogen phthalate (KAP) single crystals were grown by slow evaporation and slow cooling techniques. The growth procedure like temperature cooling rate, evaporation rate, solution pH, concentration of the solute, supersaturation ratio etc., has been varied to have optically transparent crystals. Efforts were made to dope the KAP crystals with rubidium, sodium and lithium ions. The dopant concentration has been varied from 0.01 to 10 mole percent. Good quality single crystals were grown with different concentrations of dopants in the mother phase. Depending on the concentration of the dopants and the solution pH value, there is modification of habit. Rubidium ions very much improve the growth on the prismatic faces. The transparency of the crystals is improved with rubidium and sodium doping. The role of the dopants on the non-linear optical performance of KAP indicates better efficiency for doped crystals. The grown crystals were characterized with XRD, FT-IR, chemical etching, Vickers microhardness and SHG measurements. The influence of the dopants on the optical, chemical, structural, mechanical and other properties of the KAP crystals was analysed. © 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim [source]


Influence of light energy and power density on the microhardness of two nanohybrid composites

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 1 2008
Kerstin Gritsch
The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of light parameters on nanohybrid composite curing. Two nanohybrid resins were cured by two light-emitting diode (LED) devices and by one quartz-tungsten-halogen (QTH) device using different combinations of energy density and power density (8 J cm,2 and 400 mW cm,2; 8 J cm,2 and 1,000 mW cm,2; 16 J cm,2 and 400 mW cm,2; and 16 J cm,2,1,000 mW cm,2). The effects of these combinations on polymerization were assessed by measuring the Vickers microhardness. Data differed for the two composites and varied according to the light parameters and the nature of the curing device. For both resins, an energy density of 16 J cm,2 yielded the best microhardness values at both the top and the bottom of the sample, independently of the power density. When using a lower energy density of 8 J cm,2, a modulated power density was required to achieve proper curing at the bottom of the sample: 8 J cm,2 and 400 mW cm,2 induced greater values at the bottom surface. At an energy density of 16 J cm,2, the power density was not relevant (no significant differences were found between 400 and 1,000 mW cm,2), except when the emission spectra of the light-curing units (LCUs) did not match exactly with the absorption spectra of the photoinitators included in the resins (greatest values with 16 J cm,2 and1,000 mW cm,2). These results suggest that above a certain energy density threshold, the power density may not significantly influence the polymerization kinetics. [source]


The effect of pH on surface hardness and microstructure of mineral trioxide aggregate

INTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 2 2008
M. S. Namazikhah
Abstract Aim, To evaluate the surface microhardness of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) specimens following exposure of their surface to a range of acidic environments during hydration. In addition, the morphological microstructure features of samples were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Methodology, White ProRoot MTA (Dentsply Tulsa Dental, Johnson City, TN, USA) was mixed and packed into cylindrical polycarbonate tubes. Four groups, each of 10 specimens, were formed using a pressure of 3.22 MPa and exposed to pH 4.4, 5.4, 6.4 and 7.4, respectively, for 4 days. Vickers microhardness of the surface of each specimen was measured after exposure. Four groups of two specimens were prepared and treated in the same way prior to qualitative examination by SEM. Data were subjected to one-way anova and post hoc Tukey's test. Result, The greatest mean surface hardness values (53.19 ± 4.124) were observed following exposure to pH 7.4 with the values decreasing to 14.34 ± 6.477 following exposure to pH 4.4. The difference between these values at the 95% CI (33.39,44.30) was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). There were no distinct morphological differences between groups in terms of the internal microstructure. However, a trend was observed that the more acidic the solution, the more extensive the porosity of the specimens. Conclusion, Under the conditions of this study, surface hardness of MTA was impaired in an acidic environment. [source]


Microhardness and fracture toughness of dental materials by indentation method

JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2006
Aylin, akar-Deliormanli
Abstract The main objective of this study was to measure the fracture toughness of the human teeth enamel using the microindentation technique and to compare the results calculated from the equations developed for Palmqvist and radial-median cracks. Vickers microhardness measurements of dental ceramic (alumina) and human teeth were performed using indentation fracture method. The fracture toughness of enamel was calculated using different equations reported in the literature. Vickers microhardness of the sintered alumina specimen (98.8% theoretical density) was measured to be 14.92 GPa under 9.8N indentation load. Three equations based on the radial-median cracks were found to be applicable for the fracture toughness determination of the enamel. Results show that indentation fracture method is adequate to measure microhardness and fracture toughness of dental materials. However the calculation of fracture toughness depended on the nature of the cracks and also on the location of the indentation. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the crack profile and to select the appropriate equation for accurate fracture toughness values. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2006 [source]


Mechanical Behavior and Failure Analysis of Prosthetic Retaining Screws after Long-Term Use In Vivo.

JOURNAL OF PROSTHODONTICS, Issue 3 2008
Microhardness Analysis, Part 2: Metallurgical
Abstract Purpose: This study involved testing and analyzing multiple retrieved prosthetic retaining screws after long-term use in vivo to: (1) detect manufacturing defects that could affect in-service behavior; (2) characterize the microstructure and alloy composition; and (3) further characterize the wear mechanism of the screw threads. Materials and Methods: Two new (control) screws from Nobel Biocare (NB) and 18 used (in service 18,120 months) retaining screws [12 from NB and 6 from Sterngold (SG)] were: (1) metallographically examined by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine the microstructure; (2) analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis to determine the qualitative and semiquantitative average alloy and individual phase compositions; and (3) tested for Vickers microhardness. Results: Examination of polished longitudinal sections of the screws using light microscopy revealed a significant defect in only one Group 4 screw. No significant defects in any other screws were observed. The defect was considered a "seam" originating as a "hot tear" during original casting solidification of the alloy. Additionally, the examination of longitudinal sections of the screws revealed a uniform homogeneous microstructure in some groups, while in other groups the sections exhibited rows of second phase particles. The screws for some groups demonstrated severe deformation of the lower threads and the bottom part of the screw leading to the formation of crevices and grooves. Some NB screws were comprised of Au-based alloy with Pt, Cu, and Ag as alloy elements, while others (Groups 4 and 19) were Pd-based with Ga, Cu, and Au alloy elements. The microstructure was homogeneous with fine or equiaxed grains for all groups except Group 4, which appeared inhomogeneous with anomalous grains. SG screws demonstrated a typical dendritic structure and were Au-based alloy with Cu and Ag alloy elements. There were differences in the microhardness of gold alloy screws from NB and SG as well as palladium alloy screws from NB. Conclusions: Significant differences within NB retaining screws and between NB and SG screws were found for microstructure, major alloy constituents, and microhardness. [source]