Stereolithography 3D Printer for Micromodel Fabrications with Comprehensive Accuracy Evaluation by Using Microtomography

Influence of Post-Processing on the Properties of Multi-Material Parts Obtained by Material Projection AM

The great geometric complexity that additive manufacturing allows in parts, together with the possibility of combining several materials in the same part, establishes a new design and manufacturing paradigm. Despite the interest of many leading sectors, the lack of standardization still makes it necessary to carry out characterization work to enjoy these advantages in functional parts. In many of these techniques, the process does not end with the end of the machine cycle, but different post-processing must be carried out to consider the part finished. It has been found that the type of post process applied can have a similar effect on part quality as other further studied process parameters. In this work, the material projection technique was used to manufacture multi-material parts combining resins with different mechanical properties. The influence of different post-processing on the tensile behavior of these parts was analyzed. The results show the detrimental effect of ultrasonic treatment with isopropyl alcohol in the case of the more flexible resin mixtures, being advisable to use ultrasonic with mineral oil or furnace treatment. For more rigid mixtures, the furnace is the best option, although the other post-processing techniques do not significantly deteriorate their performance.

Penetration Coefficients of Commercial Nanolimes and a Liquid Mineral Precursor for Pore-Imitating Test Systems-Predictability of Infiltration Behavior

Nanolimes have been commercially available for over a decade as a remineralization agent for natural stone to combat deterioration. While they have been applied successfully and studied extensively, their penetration abilities in different materials have not yet been readily quantifiable in situ and in real time. Using two transparent pore-imitating test systems (acrylic glass (PMMA) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)) and light microscopy, the penetration coefficients (PCs) of two nanolimes (CaLoSiL (CLS) and Nanorestore Plus (NRP)), as well as their solvents, were determined experimentally in square channels of about 100 µm diameter. Their PCs and those for a previously published glass-resin-based test system were also predicted based on measurable material parameters or literature values using the Lucas-Washburn equation. Additionally, a liquid mineral precursor (LMP) of calcium carbonate based on complex coacervation (CC) was investigated as an alternative to the solid particle dispersions of nanolime. In general, the dispersions behaved like their pure solvents. Overall, trends could be reasonably well predicted with both literature and experimentally determined properties using the Lucas-Washburn equation. In absolute terms, the prediction of observed infiltration behavior was satisfactory for alcohols and nanolimes but deviated substantially for water and the aqueous LMP. The commercially available PMMA chips and newly designed PDMS devices were mostly superior to the previously published glass-resin-based test system, except for the long-term monitoring of material deposition. Lastly, the transfer of results from these investigated systems to a different, nontransparent mineral, calcite, yielded similar PC values independently of the original data when used as the basis for the conversion (all PC types and all material/liquid combinations except aqueous solutions in PDMS devices). This knowledge can be used to improve the targeted design of tailor-made remineralization treatments for different application cases by guiding solvent choice, and to reduce destructive sampling by providing a micromodel for pretesting, if transferability to real stone samples proves demonstrable in the future.

Research on Adaptability Evaluation Method of Polymer by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Technology

In order to study the matching relationship between polymer(HPAM) molecular weight and reservoir permeability, in this paper, the injection performance of polymers with different molecular weights in rock cores with different permeability is studied. Using nuclear magnetic resonance technology combined with conventional core displacement equipment, the change law of the displacement process was analyzed from three aspects of nuclear magnetic resonance T₂ spectrum, core layering, and imaging. Finally, the fluidity of the polymer solution in the core was analyzed by injection pressure control features. The experimental results show that the polymer solution with a molecular weight of 25 million has the best retention effect in the core flooding experiment and can stay in the dominant channel of the core for a long time to control the water flooding mobility. In rocks with a permeability of 500, 1000, and 2000 mD, subsequent water flooding can expand the swept volume by about 25% compared with polymer flooding. This method can effectively establish the adaptability matching relationship between the polymer molecular weight and the reservoir permeability.

Comparison of the measurement error of optical impressions obtained with four intraoral and one extra-oral dental scanners of post and core preparations

Statement of problem

Innovations in intraoral scanner (IOS) technology are opening up ever more indications for computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD-CAM). The manufacturers claim that the latest generations of scanners allow the digitizing of root canal preparations. However, there is a lack of studies evaluating the quality of the optical impressions made for this type of treatment.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the measurement error of 4 IOSs and a laboratory scanner used for the digitizing of root canal preparations and to highlight the effect of the presence or absence of adjacent teeth on the quality of the digital model.

Material and methods

Two models: one presenting adjacent teeth, one without adjacent teeth, both presenting a 10 mm deep nominal conical pit mimicking a root canal preparation were fabricated. Each model was scanned 10 times with a laboratory scanner (E3) and 4 intraoral scanners (Primescan, Omnicam, TRIOS 4, and Medit i700). The digital models were then exported as standard tessellation language (STL) files and analyzed to evaluate the mean measurement error of the digitizing of the root preparation at three different depths: 0-3 mm, 3-6 mm, and 6-9 mm. Significant differences were assessed with a 1-way ANOVA test and the pairwise comparison between scanners was done by Tukey's multiple comparison test.

Results

Statistical differences were found between scanners (P < 0.05). The mean measurement error ranged from 9.8 ± 0.5 μm with the Medit i700 to 28.2 ± 10 μm with the E3. The E3 and Omnicam scanners were in some cases incapable of digitizing the conical preparation in its entirety. The group Primescan, TRIOS 4, and Medit i700 showed minimally significant differences. The presence of adjacent teeth had a negative effect on the model quality for some scanners, mainly because of the obstruction of the IOS's head.

Conclusions

Significant differences were found among the dental scanners used for digitizing root canal preparations. Optical impressions with modern intraoral scanners seem to be an adapted method of registration of root canal preparation for post-and-copings of post-and-cores fabrication.

Effects of Accelerating the Ageing of 1D PLA Filaments after Fused Filament Fabrication

The effects of post-treatment temperature-based methods for accelerating the ageing of PLA were studied on 1D single-PLA filaments after fused filament fabrication (FFF). The goal was to answer the questions whether the PLA can be safely aged-i.e., without degrading-at higher temperatures; at which temperatures, if any; how long it takes for the PLA to fully age at the chosen temperature; and which are the main differences between the material aged at room temperature and the material aged at higher temperatures. We also share other helpful information found. The use of 1D filaments allows for decoupling the variables related to the 3D structure (layer height, raster angle, infill density, and layers adhesion) from the variables solely related to the material (here, we analysed the molecular weight, the molecular orientation, and the crystallinity). 1D PLA filaments were aged at 20, 39, 42, 51, 65, 75, and 80 °C in a water-bath-inspired process in which the hydrolytic degradation of the PLA was minimised for the ageing temperatures of interest. Those temperatures were selected based on a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) scan of the PLA right after it was printed in order to study the most effective ageing temperature, 39 °C, and highlight possible degradation mechanisms during ageing. The evolution of the thermal and mechanical properties of the PLA filaments at different temperatures was recorded and compared with those of the material aged at room temperature. A DSC scan was used to evaluate the thermal and physical properties, in which the glass transition, enthalpic relaxation, crystallisation, and melting reactions were analysed. A double glass transition was found, and its potential implications for the scientific community are discussed. Tensile tests were performed to evaluate the tensile strength and elastic modulus. The flow-induced molecular orientation, the degradation, the logistic fitting, and the so-called summer effect-the stabilisation of properties at higher values when aged at higher temperatures-are discussed to assess the safety of accelerating the ageing rate and the differences between the materials aged at different temperatures. It was found that the PLA aged at 39 °C (1) reached almost stable properties with just one day of ageing, i.e., the ageing rate accelerated by 875% for the elastic modulus and by 1635% for the yield strength; (2) the stable properties were higher than those from the PLA aged at room temperature; and (3) no signs of degradation were identified for the ageing temperature of interest.

Hydrodynamic Fingering Induced by Gel Film Formation in Miscible Fluid Systems: An Experimental and Mathematical Study

Hydrodynamic fingering induced by gel formation shares common features with growing biofilms, bacterial colonies, and the instability of a confined chemical garden. Fluid displacement with gel formation is also essential in various engineering applications, including CO2 leakage remediation from storage reservoirs and enhanced oil recovery. We conducted Hele-Shaw cell displacement experiments for a miscible fluid system using skim milk and aqueous citric acid solution. This study aimed to investigate the effects of gel film formation on the fingering instability of a miscible fluid system and develop a mathematical model of the sequential growth of gel film formation at the fingertip. We found that the gel film formation thickens with time, resulting in instability at the interface. A distinctive fingering pattern, resembling tentacles, appears where miscibility is suppressed, and the growth of the finger is localized at the fingertip. The finger width remains constant with increasing flow rate, whereas the number of fingers increases linearly before the fingers merge. The gap width significantly limits the finger width. Finally, a mathematical model of sequential film thickness growth for a bubble-like fingertip structure was developed. This model is based upon the interplay between the diffusion of citric acid through the existing gel film formation and elongation of the fingertip. The model provides an understanding of the fundamental mechanism of the growth of the bubble-like fingertip.