Role of Sintering Temperature in Production of Nepheline Ceramics-Based Geopolymer with Addition of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene

The primary motivation of developing ceramic materials using geopolymer method is to minimize the reliance on high sintering temperatures. The ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was added as binder and reinforces the nepheline ceramics based geopolymer. The samples were sintered at 900 °C, 1000 °C, 1100 °C, and 1200 °C to elucidate the influence of sintering on the physical and microstructural properties. The results indicated that a maximum flexural strength of 92 MPa is attainable once the samples are used to be sintered at 1200 °C. It was also determined that the density, porosity, volumetric shrinkage, and water absorption of the samples also affected by the sintering due to the change of microstructure and crystallinity. The IR spectra reveal that the band at around 1400 cm⁻¹ becomes weak, indicating that sodium carbonate decomposed and began to react with the silica and alumina released from gels to form nepheline phases. The sintering process influence in the development of the final microstructure thus improving the properties of the ceramic materials.

The Concurrent Sintering-Crystallization Behavior of Fluoride-Containing Wollastonite Glass-Ceramics

The fabrication of well densified wollastonite with smooth appearance by direct sintering method is still a challenge due to the competitive behaviors between sintering and crystallization. In this study, the coarser glass frits with a size of 1–4 mm are subjected to heat treatment at different temperatures. An attempt of integrating differential thermal analyzer with a slag melting temperature characteristic tester was exploited to monitor the heat and geometry changes during the heating. The results showed that the addition of CaF₂ can significantly promote the crystallization of wollastonite at 940 °C, while hindering the sintering ability. At higher temperature, the increase of CaF₂ acts as flux and favors the formation of eutectics, leading to a decline in the precipitation amount of wollastonite. The predominated liquid sintering brought fast shrinkage. It was found out that high content of CaF₂ narrows the dense sintering temperature range and results in uneven surfaces. In order to obtain wollastonite glass-ceramics with smooth appearance, the maximum content of CaF₂ in sintering glass-ceramics should be limited to 2 wt.%.

Composite Nitride Nanoceramics in the System Titanium Nitride (TiN)-Aluminum Nitride (AlN) through High Pressure and High Temperature Sintering of Synthesis-Mixed Nanocrystalline Powders

Presented is a study on the original preparation of individual and in situ intimately mixed composite nanocrystalline powders in the titanium nitride-aluminum nitride system, Ti:Al = 1:1 (at.), which were used in high pressure (7.7 GPa) and high temperature (650 and 1200 °C) sintering with no binding additives for diverse individual and composite nanoceramics. First, variations in precursor processing pathways and final nitridation temperatures, 800 and 1100 °C, afforded a pool of mixed in the nanosized regime cubic TiN (c-TiN) and hexagonal AlN (h-AlN) composite nanopowders both with varying average crystallite sizes. Second, the sintering temperatures were selected either to preserve initial powder nanocrystallinity (650 °C was lower than both nitridation temperatures) or promote crystal growth and recrystallization (1200 °C was higher than both nitridation temperatures). Potential equilibration towards bimetallic compounds upon solution mixing of the organometallic precursors to nanopowders, monomeric Ti[N(CH₃)₂]₄ and dimeric {Al[N(CH₃)₂]₃}₂, was studied with ¹H and ¹³C NMR in C₆D₆ solution. The powders and nanoceramics, both of the composites and individual nitrides, were characterized if applicable by powder XRD, FT-IR, SEM/EDX, Vicker’s hardness, and helium density. The Vicker’s hardness tests confirmed many of the composite and individual nanoceramics having high hardnesses comparable with those of the reference h-AlN and c-TiN ceramics. This is despite extended phase segregation and, frequently, closed microsized pore formation linked mainly to the AlN component. No evidence was found for metastable alloying of the two crystallographically different nitrides under the applied synthesis and sintering conditions. The high pressure and high temperature sintering of the individual and in situ synthesis-mixed composite nanopowders of TiN-AlN was demonstrated to yield robust nanoceramics.

Sintering Process Optimization for 3YSZ Ceramic 3D-Printed Objects Manufactured by Stereolithography

A 3YSZ (3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia) ceramic green body with 50 vol% of ceramic content was 3D-printed by supportless stereolithography under optimal drying, debinding, and sintering conditions in order to achieve high strength and density. The viscosity and flowability of the ceramic nanocomposite resins were optimized by adjusting the amounts of non-reactive diluents. The ceramic 3D-printed objects have a high polymer content compared to ceramics samples manufactured by conventional manufacturing processes, and the attraction between layers is weak because of the layer-by-layer additive method. This causes problems such as layer separation and cracking due to internal stress generated when materials such as solvents and polymers are separated from the objects during the drying and debinding processes; therefore, the drying and debinding conditions of 3YSZ ceramic 3D-printed objects were optimized based on thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis. The sintering conditions at various temperatures and times were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, SEM, and flexural strength analysis, and the body of the 3YSZ ceramic 3D-printed object that sintered at 1450 °C for 150 min had a relative density of 99.95% and flexural strength of 1008.5 MPa. This study widens the possibility of manufacturing ceramic 3D-printed objects with complex shapes, remarkable strength, and unique functionality, enabling their application in various industrial fields.

Innovative Bioactive Ag-SiO2/TiO2 Coating on a NiTi-Shape Memory Alloy: Structure and Mechanism of Its Formation

In recent years, more and more emphasis has been placed on the development and functionalization of metallic substrates for medical applications to improve their properties and increase their applicability. Today, there are many different types of approaches and materials that are used for this purpose. Our idea was based on a combination of a chemically synthesized Ag-SiO2 nanocomposite and the electrophoretic deposition approach on a NiTi-shape memory substrate. As a result, silver-silica coating was developed on a previously passivated alloy, which was then subjected to sintering at 700 °C for 2 h. The micrometer-sized coat-forming material was composed of large agglomerates consisting of silica and a thin film of submicron- and nano- spherical-shaped particles built of silver, carbon, and oxygen. Structurally, the coatings consisted of a combination of nanometer-sized silver-carbonate that was embedded in thin amorphous silica and siloxy network. The temperature impact had forced morphological and structural changes such as the consolidation of the coat-forming material, and the partial coalescence of the silver and silica particles. As a result, a new continuous complex ceramic coating was formed and was analyzed in more detail using the XPS, XRD, and Raman methods. According to the structural and chemical analyses, the deposited Ag-SiO2 nanocomposite material's reorganization was due to its reaction with a passivated TiO2 layer, which formed an atypical glass-like composite that consisted of SiO2-TiO2 with silver particles that stabilized the network. Finally, the functionalization of the NiTi surface did not block the shape memory effect.

Dielectric Response and Structural Analysis of (A3+, Nb5+) Cosubstituted CaCu3Ti4O12 Ceramics (A: Al and Bi)

CaCu₃Ti_4-x((A_0.05Nb_0.05))_xO₁₂ ceramics (A: Al and Bi; x = 0, 0.3) were synthesized by high-energy mechanical ball milling and reactive sintering at 1050 °C in air. Rietveld refinement of XRD data revealed the pure and (Al³⁺, Nb⁵⁺) cosubstituted ceramics contained a minor CuO secondary phase with a mole fraction of about 3.2% and 6.9%, respectively, along with a CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO)-like cubic structure. In addition, (Bi³⁺, Nb⁵⁺) cosubstituted ceramics had a pyrochlore (Ca₂(Ti, Nb)₂O₇) secondary phase of about 18%. While the (Al³⁺, Nb⁵⁺) cosubstituted CCTO showed the highest relative permittivity (ε’ = 3.9 × 10⁴), pure CCTO showed the lowest dielectric loss (tanδ = 0.023) at 1 kHz and 300 K. Impedance-spectroscopy (IS) measurements showed an electrically heterogeneous structure for the studied ceramics, where a semiconducting grain was surrounded by highly resistive grain boundary. The giant relative permittivity of the ceramics was attributed to the Maxwell–Wagner polarization effect at the blocking grain boundaries and domain boundaries. The higher tanδ of the cosubstituted samples was correlated with their lower grain boundary’s resistivity, as confirmed by IS analysis. Modulus-spectrum analysis revealed two relaxation processes for the pure and (Bi³⁺, Nb⁵⁺) cosubstituted CCTO samples. Dissimilar behavior was observed for the (Al³⁺, Nb⁵⁺) cosubstituted CCTO, where three relaxation mechanisms were observed and attributed to the grain, domain-boundary, and grain-boundary responses.

Manufacturing of Lightweight Aggregates as an Auspicious Method of Sewage Sludge Utilization

Sewage sludge is a high-volume and low-cost waste commonly generated worldwide, so its utilization is a vital issue. The application of this waste in the manufacturing of lightweight aggregates was investigated. The process was performed using intensive mixers with volumes of 5 and 30 L, as well as the industrial 500 L mixer. Then, granulates were sintered in a tube furnace. The influence of composition and mixer size on the particle size, microstructure, mechanical performance, and stability of lightweight aggregates in different environments was analyzed. The best results were obtained for a 500 L mixer, enhancing the industrial potential of the presented process. Increasing the share of sewage sludge in the composition of aggregates enhanced their porosity and reduced the specific weight, which caused a drop in compressive strength. Nevertheless, for all analyzed materials, the mechanical performance was superior compared to many commercial products. Therefore, sewage sludge can be efficiently applied as a raw material for the manufacturing of lightweight aggregates. The presented results confirm that a proper adjustment of composition allows easy the tailoring of aggregates' performance and cost.

Influence of MXene (Ti3C2) Phase Addition on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Silicon Nitride Ceramics

This paper discusses the influence of Ti₃C₂ (MXene) addition on silicon nitride and its impact on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the latter. Composites were prepared through powder processing and sintered using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) technic. Relative density, hardness and fracture toughness, were analyzed. The highest fracture toughness at 5.3 MPa·m^1/2 and the highest hardness at HV5 2217 were achieved for 0.7 and 2 wt.% Ti₃C₂, respectively. Moreover, the formation of the Si₂N₂O phase was observed as a result of both the MXene addition and the preservation of the α-Si₃N₄→β-Si₃N₄ phase transformation during the sintering process.

Chemical and Wetting Analysis of the Ni-Ti Coating on SiC Improved by a 2-Step Coating-Sintering Process

A two-stepped coating-sintering process to prepare the qualified Ni-Ti transition applied in metal-ceramic bonding proved to be effective to improve the wetting abilities. The method was introduced in detail and compared with 2 control groups. To analyze the benefits, the morphology and composition were captured by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The comparisons of different coating depths and different sintering conditions were also recorded and analyzed. The influence of the EDS detecting depth was a concern in the discussions. Finally, the contact angle tests and surface energies were also estimated to verify the reliability of the transition layer. The results indicated that the coating-sintering process combined with protective sintering was preferred and necessary to increase the activeness.

Printable Liquid Metal Microparticle Ink for Ultrastretchable Electronics

Liquid metal confined in the elastomer represents an ideal platform for stretchable electronics with ultimate deformability. To enable facile and scalable patterning of conductive features, bulk liquid metal is typically dispersed into fine particles to formulate printable inks. The presence of native oxide or organic ligands stabilizing these liquid metal particles unfortunately inhibits their direct coalescence to recover the metallic conductivity and liquid-state deformability. Here, we report a chemical sintering process that converts printed liquid metal microparticles into a highly deformable conductor. The process involves the removal of surface passivating oxide by a short exposure to acid fume and subsequent selective wetting of liquid metal microparticles onto copper nanoplates present in the ink formulation. The chemical reaction provides the basis for a facile and scalable procedure to print conductive features over a large area with exceptional conductivity (>10⁴ S cm^-1) and ultrahigh stretchability (∼1000% strain). Their practical suitability is demonstrated by the fabrication of an ultrastretchable ribbon cable and an epidermal heater.

Mechanical and Biocompatibility Properties of Calcium Phosphate Bioceramics Derived from Salmon Fish Bone Wastes

Natural calcium phosphates derived from fish wastes are a promising material for biomedical application. However, their sintered ceramics are not fully characterized in terms of mechanical and biological properties. In this study, natural calcium phosphate was synthesized through a thermal calcination process from salmon fish bone wastes. The salmon-derived calcium phosphates (sCaP) were sintered at different temperatures to obtain natural calcium phosphate bioceramics and then were investigated in terms of their microstructure, mechanical properties and biocompatibility. In particular, this work is concerned with the effects of grain size on the relative density and microhardness of the sCaP bioceramics. Ca/P ratio of the sintered sCaP ranged from 1.73 to 1.52 when the sintering temperature was raised from 1000 to 1300 °C. The crystal phase of all the sCaP bioceramics obtained was biphasic and composed of hydroxyapatite (HA) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP). The density and microhardness of the sCaP bioceramics increased in the temperature interval 1000–1100 °C, while at temperatures higher than 1100 °C, these properties were not significantly altered. The highest compressive strength of 116 MPa was recorded for the samples sintered at 1100 °C. In vitro biocompatibility was also examined in the behavior of osteosarcoma (Saos-2) cells, indicating that the sCaP bioceramics had no cytotoxicity effect. Salmon-derived biphasic calcium phosphates (BCP) have the potential to contribute to the development of bone substituted materials.

Physical Characterization of Sintered NiMnGa Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Alloy

The present work focused on the microstructural, thermal, electrical, and damping characterization of NiMnGa samples produced through a powder pressing and a sintering process; the effect of sintering times and of the starting powder size were evaluated. Moreover, an observation of the evolution of martensitic transformation typical of NiMnGa ferromagnetic shape memory alloy was conducted in comparison with the cast material behavior and in correlation with the material densification. The optimum powder size and sintering time for the process, i.e., 50 µm or lower and 72 h, were identified considering the investigated physical properties of the sintered samples in comparison to the cast material. The corresponding sample showed the best compromise between density, thermal and electrical properties, and damping and functional behaviour. In general, the outcomes of this study could be the basis of a useful tool for production processes that include a sintering step as well as being a starting point for the evaluation of an alternative low cost fabrication method of this alloy.

Effects of Reinforcement Ratios and Sintering Temperatures on the Mechanical Properties of Titanium Nitride/Nickel Composites

In this study, powder metallurgy was used to fabricate titanium nitride/nickel metal-matrix composites. First, titanium and nickel powders with weight ratios of 20:80, 50:50 and 80:20 were dry mixed for 24 h. After cold isostatic pressing, the green compacts were soaked in a water-based hot forging lubricant and sintered at 850, 950 and 1050 °C for 1.5 h in an air atmosphere. The effects of the amounts of titanium powder and the sintering temperatures on the mechanical properties (hardness, wear resistance and compressive strength) of the composites were investigated. The results indicated that titanium gradually transformed into titanium nitride near the surface after sintering due to the carbothermal reduction reaction; this transformation was observed to significantly increase the hardness. In addition, an oxygen-rich film was observed to form between the titanium nitride particles and the nickel matrix. An optimum sintering temperature of 950 °C provides the composites (titanium-nickel weight ratios of 20:80) the best mechanical properties (wear resistance and compressive strength) among other groups. Furthermore, increasing the titanium content to 80% in the composite increased the hardness; however, the wear resistance and compressive strength decreased.

Processing of Highly Filled Polymer-Metal Feedstocks for Fused Filament Fabrication and the Production of Metallic Implants

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is a new procedure for the production of plastic parts, particularly if the parts have a complex geometry and are only needed in a limited quantity, e.g., in specific medical applications. In addition to the production of parts which are purely composed of polymers, fused filament fabrication can be successfully applied for the preparation of green bodies for sintering of metallic implant materials in medical applications. In this case, highly filled polymer–metal feedstocks, which contain a variety of polymeric components, are used. In this study, we focus on various polymer-metal feedstocks, investigate the rheological properties of these materials, and relate them to our results of FFF experiments. Small amplitudes of shear oscillations reveal that the linear range of the polymer–metal feedstocks under investigation is very small, which is caused by elastic and viscous interactions between the metallic particles. These interactions strongly influence or even dominate the flow properties of the feedstock depending on the applied shear stress. The magnitude of the complex viscosity strongly increases with decreasing angular frequency, which indicates the existence of an apparent yield stress. The viscosity increase caused by the high powder loading needed for sintering limits the maximum printing velocity and the minimum layer height. The apparent yield stress hinders the formation of smooth surfaces in the FFF process and slows down the welding of deposited layers. The influence of composition on the processing parameters (suitable temperature range) and part properties (e.g., surface roughness) is discussed on the basis of rheological data.

Protein adsorption on spark plasma sintered 2d-, 3d- and lamellar type mesoporous silicate compacts

The preparation of lamellar type mesoporous silica (MPS) compact through the spark plasma sintering (SPS) and the adsorption/desorption of protein onto MPS compact are reported to be compared with those onto 2d-hexagonal and 3d-cubic type MPS compacts. A lamellar-type MPS powder (MPS-la) was prepared using triblock copolymer, PEO5PPO68PEO5, and was compacted in a carbon die and heated at 500°C for 5 min under uniaxial pressure. The products are referred to as MPS-la-500. The MPS compacts keep the lamellar type mesoporous configuration. The adsorbed amount of protein onto MPS-la-500 was 100 mg/g, while that on MPS-la was 130 mg/g, and the former decreased by 23%. However, its decreasing ratio of the protein adsorption on MPS-la-500 was less than those of 2d-hexagonal and 3d-cubic type MPS compacts, which were 73 and 34%, respectively. The released amount of protein into PBS solution from MPS-la-500, which was soaked in the protein solution for 48 h, increased with the soaking time, while those from 2d- and 3d-type MPS compacts reached to plateau for 4 h of soaking. The lamellar type MPS compact was found to be easier to absorb and release proteins, which may be due to the large aperture of the mesoporous configuration.

Discrete Element Framework for Determination of Sintering and Postsintering Residual Stresses of Particle Reinforced Composites

In this paper, the discrete element method framework is employed to determine and analyze the stresses induced during and after the powder metallurgy process of particle-reinforced composite. Applied mechanical loading and the differences in the thermal expansion coefficients of metal/intermetallic matrix and ceramic reinforcing particles during cooling produce the complex state of stresses in and between the particles, leading to the occurrence of material defects, such as cracks, and in consequence the composite degradation. Therefore, the viscoelastic model of pressure-assisted sintering of a two-phase powder mixture is applied in order to study the stress field of particle assembly of intermetallic-ceramic composite NiAl/Al2O3. The stress evaluation is performed at two levels: macroscopic and microscopic. Macroscopic averaged stress is determined using the homogenization method using the representative volume element. Microscopic stresses are calculated both in the body of particles and in the contact interface (necks) between particles. Obtained results are in line with the cooling mechanism of the two-phase materials.

Inkjet Printing on a New Flexible Ceramic Substrate for Internet of Things (IoT) Applications

In this article, the optimization of printing properties on a new, flexible ceramic substrate is reported for sensing and antenna applications encompassing internet of things (IoT) devices. E-Strate^® is a commercially available, non-rigid, thin ceramic substrate for implementing in room temperature and high-temperature devices. In this substrate, the printing parameters like drop spacing, number of printed layers, sintering temperature, and sintering time were varied to ensure an electrically conductive and repeatable pattern. The test patterns were printed using silver nanoparticle ink and a Dimatix 2831 inkjet printer. Electrical conductivity, high-temperature tolerance, bending, and adhesion were investigated on the printed samples. The three-factor factorial design analysis showed that the number of printed layers, sintering temperature, sintering time, and their interactions were significant factors affecting electrical conductivity. The optimum printing parameters for the thin E-Strate^® substrate were found to be 20 μm drop spacing, three layers of printing, and 300 °C sintering temperature for 30 min. The high-temperature tolerance test indicated a stable pattern without any electrical degradation. Repetitive bending, adhesion test, and ASTM tape tests showed adequate mechanical stability of the pattern. These results will provide insight for investigators interested in fabricating new IoT devices.

Evolution of SLA-Based Al2O3 Microstructure During Additive Manufacturing Process

Evolution of additively manufactured (AM) ceramics' microstructure between manufacturing stages is a hardly explored topic. These data are of high demand for advanced numerical modeling. In this work, 3D microstructural models of Al₂O₃ greenbody, brownbody and sintered material are presented and analyzed, for ceramic samples manufactured with SLA-based AM workflow, using a commercially available ceramic paste and 3D printer. The novel data, acquired at the micro- and mesoscale, using Computed Tomography (CT), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Focused Ion-Beam SEM (FIB/SEM) techniques, allowed a deep insight into additive ceramics characteristics. We demonstrated the spatial 3D distribution of ceramic particles, an organic binder and pores at every stage of AM workflow. The porosity of greenbody samples (1.6%), brownbody samples (37.3%) and sintered material (4.9%) are analyzed. Pore distribution and possible originating mechanisms are discussed. The location and shape of pores and ceramic particles are indicative of specific physical processes driving the ceramics manufacturing. We will use the presented microstructural 3D models as input and verification data for advanced numerical simulations developed in the project.

Fit of tooth-supported zirconia single crowns-A systematic review of the literature

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to systematically map all the factors that influence the fit and adaptation of zirconia crowns and/or copings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The investigational strategy involved carrying out an electronic search between December 1, 2009 and September 1, 2019 through the Embase and Medline databases using Boolean operators to locate appropriate articles.

RESULTS

A total of 637 articles were discovered after the removal of duplicates, and 46 of these were selected for evaluation. Further, a quality assessment was performed using GRADE evaluation criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

Shoulder finish line preparations had slightly better marginal fit compared to chamfer finish lines. Crowns obtained from digital impressions had comparable to superior marginal adaptation compared to conventional impressions. Increasing cement space showed to improve zirconia crown adaptation. Cementation and veneering zirconia frameworks found to increase the marginal and internal gaps. Limited information is available on the effect of the alteration of sintering time/Temperature and/or sintering techniques on the adaptation of zirconia crowns. Most of the selected studies had a moderate quality assessment evaluation. Future studies could investigate the chair-side, ultra-fast sintering effect on the marginal gap of zirconia crowns.

Enhanced Energy Storage Performance of Sodium Niobate-Based Relaxor Dielectrics by a Ramp-to-Spike Sintering Profile

Sodium niobate (NaNbO₃)-based lead-free ceramics have been actively studied for energy storage applications because of their antiferroelectric and/or relaxor features achieved in modified systems. The P-E loops of NaNbO₃-based ceramics are usually hysteretic because of the existence of a metastable ferroelectric phase at room temperature. In this study, by introducing aliovalent cations and A-site vacancies, the relaxor characteristics are greatly enhanced in (Na_1-2xBi_x)(Nb_1-xZr_x)O₃ ceramics, leading to a high energy storage efficiency of above 90%. In addition, sintering aid CuO and a special ramp-to-spike sintering profile were employed to decrease the sintering temperature and reduce the grain size. The modified ceramic exhibits improved insulating properties and hence a higher breakdown strength, leading to a high recoverable energy density of 4.9 J/cm³ and a high energy efficiency of 88% at 430 kV/cm. The ceramic also exhibits satisfactory temperature stability over a wide temperature range from 25 to 125 °C and charge-discharge performance, making it a promising candidate for high-power dielectric energy storage applications.

Properties of Cu-xFe3O4 Nanocomposites for Electrical Application

Copper matrix nanocomposites reinforced with magnetite nanoparticles were developed using powder metallurgy. Various processing parameters were taken into consideration, such as magnetite content, compaction pressure, sintering time and temperature. The nanopowder blends were compacted using various uniaxial pressures and sintered at 650 and 800 °C in order to study the influence of processing parameters on morphology, structure, thermal, magnetic and mechanical properties. The structure and morphology of the nanocomposites analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), bright field transmission electron microscopy (TEMBF) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that sintered composites retained the nanoscale characteristics of the initial Fe₃O₄ and Cu nanopowders. These nanocomposites have good cold-rolling deformability and Vickers micro-hardness. The Cu-xFe₃O₄ nanocomposites have thermal and magnetic properties that make them suitable for electronical applications.

Molybdenum Oxide and Nickel Nitrate as Cooperative Sintering Aids for Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia

The entirely accidental observation of increased sintering performance of nickel-infiltrated yttria-stabilized zirconia (8YSZ) in a molybdenum and oxygen rich atmosphere was explored. Molybdenum and nickel were found to be synergistic sintering aids for 8YSZ. However, sintering had to take place in an atmosphere of flowing oxygen. Samples sintered in air consistently burst. The sintering performance, microstructure, and crystal structure of 8YSZ with additions of both Mo and Ni together are compared to the sintering performance, microstructure, and crystal structure of pure 8YSZ, 8YSZ with only Ni added as a sintering aid, and 8YSZ with only Mo added as a sintering aid. Enhanced densification and grain growth is observed in the Mo-Ni 8YSZ samples when compared to all other sintering samples. Order of magnitude sintering rate increases are observed in the Mo-Ni 8YSZ over that of pure 8YSZ. With a maximum sintering temperature of 1200 °C and a one-hour dwell, sintered densities of 85% theoretical density (5.02 g⁄cm³) are achieved with the Mo-Ni samples: a 57% increase in density over pure 8YSZ sintered with the same sintering profile. EIS results suggest conductivity may not be negatively impacted by the use of these two sintering aids at temperatures above 750 °C. Finally, the spontaneous generation of nickel-molybdenum nano-rods was observed on the 5, and 10 mol.% Mo-Ni infiltrated 8YSZ samples after being left under vacuum in a scanning electron microscope chamber, suggesting evaporation of a possible nickel-molybdenum compound from the sample fracture surfaces.

Measuring Heat Production from Burning Al/Zr and Al/Mg/Zr Composite Particles in a Custom Micro-Bomb Calorimeter

Al:Zr, Al-8Mg:Zr, and Al-38Mg:Zr nanocomposite particles fabricated by physical vapor deposition (PVD) and ball milling were reacted in 1 atm of pure O₂ within a custom, highly-sensitive micro-bomb calorimeter. The heats of combustion were compared to examine the effect of particle size and composition on combustion efficiency under room temperature and in a fixed volume. All particles yielded ~60–70% of their theoretical maximum heat of combustion and exhibited an increase in heat over composite thin films of similar compositions, which is attributed to an increase in the surface area to volume ratio. The effect of particle size and geometry are mitigated owing to the sintering of the particles within the crucible, implying the importance of particle dispersion for enhanced performance. Vaporization of the metal species may transition between two diffusion flame species (Mg to Al). As Mg content is increased, more vaporization may occur at lower temperatures, leading to an additional stage of sintering. Physically intermixed Al and Mg oxides have been observed coating the surface of the particles, which implies a continuous transition of these vaporization processes. Such nano-oxides imply high vapor-flame combustion temperatures (>2700 K) and suggest viability for agent defeat applications.

Three-Dimensional Extrusion Printing of Porous Scaffolds Using Storable Ceramic Inks

In this study, we describe the additive manufacturing of porous three-dimensionally (3D) printed ceramic scaffolds prepared with hydroxyapatite (HA), β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), or the combination of both with an extrusion-based process. The scaffolds were printed using a novel ceramic-based ink with reproducible printability and storability properties. After sintering at 1200°C, the scaffolds were characterized in terms of structure, mechanical properties, and dissolution in aqueous medium. Microcomputed tomography and scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed that the structure of the scaffolds, and more specifically, pore size, porosity, and isotropic dimensions were not significantly affected by the sintering process, resulting in scaffolds that closely replicate the original dimensions of the 3D model design. The mechanical properties of the sintered scaffolds were in the range of human trabecular bone for all compositions. All ceramic bioinks showed consistent printability over a span of 14 days, demonstrating the short-term storability of the formulations. Finally, the mass loss did not vary among the evaluated compositions over a period of 28 days except in the case of β-TCP scaffolds, in which the structural integrity was significantly affected after 28 days of incubation in phosphate-buffered saline. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the development of storable ceramic inks for the 3D printing of scaffolds of HA, β-TCP, and mixtures thereof with high fidelity and low shrinkage following sintering that could potentially be used for bone tissue engineering in load-bearing applications.

Effect of shade and sintering temperature on the translucency parameter of a novel multi-layered monolithic zirconia in different thicknesses

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present research was to evaluate the effect of sintering temperatures (1350°C, 1450°C, and 1600°C) of a novel multi-layered esthetic zirconia material (Katana 12Z/STML) on the grain sizes and on the translucency parameters (TP₀₀ ) for 2 different shades (A2-A3) and 2 different thicknesses (1-1.5 mm).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 120 non-sintered specimens were randomly divided into three subgroups according to sintering temperatures. The TP₀₀ and grain sizes of the sintered specimens were calculated. Statistical analyses were performed using 3-way ANOVA, 1-way ANOVA, and Tukey's post hoc tests.

RESULTS

TP₀₀ increased 1.2 to 1.5 times as the specimen thickness decreased from 1.5 to 1 mm (P ≤ .05). The lowest TP₀₀ values were recorded for sintering at 1350°C for the investigated thicknesses and shades (P ≤ .05). The interaction of sintering temperature and shade was significant (P ≤ .05). Grain sizes were ordered according to sintering temperature as 1350°C < 1450°C < 1600°C (P ≤ .05).

CONCLUSIONS

TP₀₀ values decreased with the increase in the thickness of the monolithic zirconia. The sintering temperatures and their interaction with shade significantly affected TP₀₀ values. The grain size increased with increasing sintering temperature.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The translucency of a novel multi-layered monolithic zirconia increased with higher sintering temperatures and lower thickness. The grain size increased with the increase in the sintering temperature. The sintering temperature of 1600°C led to a significant change in translucency for shade A3.