The field of dental materials has been making remarkable progress aimed at improving the physical and mechanical properties and biocompatibility of restorative materials. Biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and aesthetics should all be taken into consideration when choosing ceramic materials for dentistry. A good option that satisfies the majority of these requirements is lithium disilicate. Because of their excellent durability and aesthetic qualities, lithium disilicate blocks are particularly effective in anterior and posterior locations. Resin-based adhesive methods are used to prepare the surface of the tooth in order to adhere lithium disilicate restorations to it. Hydrofluoric acid increases surface roughness and creates micromechanical bonding. Long-term success, however, requires careful application of these process phases. The restoration’s mechanical qualities may be impacted by heat treatments (coloring, glazing, etc.). The aim of this study was to examine the composition, physical, mechanical, optical and wear properties, production methods, the effect of heat application on the material, workability properties, in-vivo/in-vitro characteristics and place in dental applications (service life, limits, resilience, strength etc.) of lithium disilicate glass ceramics in the light of literature.
Terbium zirconates, Tb2Zr2–xO7–2x (x = 0–1, step = 0.125), were prepared by a co-precipitation route and sintered at 1400 °C. The bulk structures were characterized by powder X-ray, neutron and electron diffractions while the vibrational modes and electronic structures were investigated using Raman and diffuse reflectance spectroscopies. The results showed that all materials possess fluorite structures under various compositional stoichiometries, with a linear cell expansion upon increasing x from 0 to 1. Despite the high structural symmetry and simplicity, the fluorite-structured materials can accommodate atomic disorders and oxygen vacancies without losing crystallinity, making them essential for materials applications in severe conditions, especially for high temperature, harsh chemical, and extreme radiation environments.
Ceramic composites are valued for their high hardness, but their inherent brittleness makes their mechanical performance highly sensitive to processing routes. While additive manufacturing techniques such as direct ink writing (DIW) and digital light processing (DLP) enable the fabrication of complex ceramic geometries, the mechanical response of 3D-printed ceramics across different strain rates remains insufficiently understood, particularly regarding the role of sintering parameters. In this study, SiO₂- and Al₂O₃-based ceramics were fabricated via DIW, with DLP-printed Al₂O₃ included for comparison, and systematically sintered at temperatures of 1050, 1150, and 1250 °C with holding times of 0–2 h. Quasi-static and impact compressive tests were conducted to evaluate their mechanical behavior, while fracture morphologies were examined by scanning electron microscopy to elucidate deformation mechanisms. The results demonstrate that increasing sintering temperature and duration significantly improves compressive strength, with the optimal performance achieved at 1250 °C for 2 h. All materials exhibit pronounced strain-rate sensitivity, showing higher peak strength and strain under impact loading than under quasi-static conditions, with Al₂O₃ displaying greater sensitivity to sintering variations than SiO₂. Microstructural analysis reveals that higher sintering temperatures promote particle neck growth and the transition from open to closed porosity, enhancing the effective load-bearing area and reducing stress concentration. In addition, DLP-fabricated Al₂O₃ exhibits higher densification and superior dynamic compressive performance compared with DIW specimens.
Anti-perovskites are intriguing options for optoelectronic and solar applications because of their adjustable optical and electrical characteristics. This manuscript reports the effects of pressure modulation on the physical attributes of anti-perovskite Ca3AsP. The variations on the physical attributes of the studied material are noticed at the pressure of (0, 3, 6 and 9) GPa. The FP-LAPW approach combined with the mBJ approximation provides highly accurate and reliable precise theoretical results. At ambient pressure and temperature, the structural properties ensure complete structural and thermal stability. The lattice constant of Ca3AsP reports a decaying trend as the pressure is increased. The mechanical stability of the studied material can be confirmed by the Born’s stability criteria. The studied material’s elastic constants offer higher resistance to deformation with varying pressures. Brittle characteristics are exhibited by the studied material as pressure is improved. The electronic properties reports direct bandgaps of 1.06 eV, 1.18 eV, 1.23 eV and 1.27 eV when the pressure is increased from 0 GPa to 9 GPa. The partial DOS show the As-s and Ca-s as the dominant states. The optical spectra demonstrate that pressure significantly modifies the electronic transitions, causing shifts in the dielectric function, absorption coefficient, and optical conductivity peaks toward higher energies. The enhanced optical response under pressure, particularly in the visible-UV region, indicates improved light matter interaction and tunable optoelectronic performance of the material.
With the deep integration of oral medicine and materials science, traditional dental implants—limited by long production cycles and poor adaptability—struggle to meet the clinical needs of complex bone defects. 3D printing technology, built on patient CT data and the principle of discrete stacking, enables rapid, personalized fabrication of titanium and titanium alloy implants. However, processes such as selective laser melting leave behind unique surface features—micro-pools and unmelted powder—which, combined with titanium’s inherent bio-inertness, lead to low osseointegration efficiency and insufficient antibacterial performance. This article systematically reviews surface modification techniques for titanium-based 3D-printed dental implants, focusing on how the structural characteristics of 3D-printed surfaces impose specific requirements on modification strategies. Three modification categories are discussed: physical modification (optimizing surface morphology), chemical modification (enhancing bioactivity), and biological modification (strengthening osseointegration). Evidence indicates that single modification approaches have clear limitations, whereas composite modification synergistically improves implant stability, osseointegration, and antibacterial properties. Future research should explore synergistic mechanisms, develop personalized strategies, and integrate intelligent technologies. Taken together, composite surface modification represents the most promising path forward for high-performance 3D-printed dental implants.
Metal nanoparticles are widely used in many fields such as chemistry, biology and materials science due to their superior optical, physical and biological activities. In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the use of metal nanoparticles in biomedical applications due to their antibacterial, antifungal and biocompatibility properties. However, silver nanoparticles tend to agglomerate during synthesis, which has a negative impact on their activity. This problem can be overcome by depositing silver nanoparticles on ideal solid supports with large surface area and strong interaction with metals. For this, there is a need to develop ideal solid support materials. In here, carboxymethyl cellulose/keratin/Hypericum-based microbeads were synthesized for the first time as a support material to eliminate the agglomeration problems of silver nanoparticles. The structure and morphology of the generated microbeads were evaluated by XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, EDS/EDS mapping and TEM analysis. The antioxidant activity results of the composite microbeads produced by loading different amounts of keratin showed that 1 g keratin added microbeads exhibited the best activity (88.04
To address a series of challenges in activating industrial solid wastes such as calcium carbide slag and lithium slag—including alkalinity stability, Cl⁻ fixation, microstructure, and workability—this study employs calcium carbide slag (CS)-soda residue (SR) as a dual-alkaline solid waste synergistic activator to replace industrial strong alkalis. Using ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS)-lithium slag (LS) as precursors, all-solid-waste cementitious material was prepared. By systematically regulating water to binder ratio, precursor proportions, and alkaline solid waste ratios, the macroscopic properties were characterized through compressive strength and flowability tests. Hydration mechanisms were elucidated using XRD, FTIR, and SEM-EDS techniques. Findings indicate that the CSR dual-alkaline solid waste synergistic activator achieves dual assurance of high-alkalinity stimulation and workability through graded alkalinity release. The combination of CS’s rapid alkali release and SR’s sustained-release stabilising mechanism enables alkalinity regulation and Cl⁻ fixation, enhancing early strength and long-term stability. The GL precursor forms a complementary calcium-silicon-aluminium gradient, maintaining system workability and sustaining late-stage hydration reactions. Furthermore, sulphates within LS promote the formation of ettringite (AFt), significantly enhancing early strength while their dispersed heterogeneous crystalline nuclei sites facilitate the encapsulated growth of C-(A)-S-H gel, forming a dense network structure. The CSR-GL all-solid-waste cementitious material forms an FS-AFt interwoven crystalline network, achieving Friedel’s salt (FS) chemical fixation of Cl⁻ and physical encapsulation by AFt. Competitive adsorption between SO₄²⁻ and AFt maintains the stable network structure of AFt, refining and homogenizing the pore structure. GL precursor forms complementary Ca-Si-Al gradients to maintain fluidity and promote late-stage hydration. CSR dual-alkaline solid waste synergistic activator enables graded alkali release for high-alkali activation and workability. CS rapid alkali release and SR sustained alkali stabilization achieve Cl⁻ fixation, ensuring early strength and long-term stability. AFt generated by GL provides early strength, while dispersed heterogeneous crystalline nuclei promote the encapsulated growth of C-(A)-S-H gel. SO₄²⁻ competitive adsorption maintains AFt network structural stability and optimises pore distribution. CSR-GL all-solid-waste cementitious material matrix-formed FS-AFt network structure achieves Cl⁻ chemical fixation and physical encapsulation.
Hydrogen has increasingly been explored as a long-term energy medium due to its minimal environmental footprint with significant capacity to replace traditional fossil-based fuels. However, the core reaction pathways associated with hydrogen and oxygen production dominate the performance of electrolytic water splitting, are crucial mechanisms in water electrolysis, and incur substantial overpotentials; hence, they require efficient electrocatalysts. In this study, a strontium-based metal-organic framework (Sr-MOF) is hydrothermally produced and tested as a bifunctional electrocatalyst. A comprehensive understanding of internal lattice arrangement as well as the external morphological characteristics of the Sr-MOF that was just synthesized was obtained through different characterizations. The high porosity of Sr-MOF, with many active sites, and the uniform distribution of Sr metal centers, both favorably affect interfacial charge mobility and, at the same time, create the ability of the electrochemical pathways of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER) to bind the reaction intermediates on the surface, meaning that the high porosity of the material plays a leading role in the bifunctionality of the material. The Sr-MOF demonstrates an OER overpotential limited to approximately 216 mV, while the hydrogen reaction evolution happened with an overpotential of about 165 mV. Also, it has good Tafel slope values of 81 mV dec− 1 OER and 113 mV dec− 1 for HER at a current density of 10 mA cm− 2. These outcomes show that the Sr-MOF nanorods have high bifunctional activity and hold great potential for economic hydrogen production. The Sr-MOF is successfully produced hydrothermally and used as a bifunctional electrocatalyst. The Sr-MOF demonstrates an OER overpotential limited to approximately 110 mV whereas hydrogen evolution proceeded with an overpotential close to 104 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm2. Sr-MOF shows Tafel slopes for OER and HER of 56 mVdec-1 and 113 mVdec-1, respectively, indicating good reaction kinetics.
In order to investigate the role and mechanism of high-calcium silico-aluminous raw materials on geopolymerization and ceramization of geopolymer. The binary geopolymers with different slag substitution rates were prepared using high calcium slag, metakaolin and alkaline activators firstly. Then, bond structure, phase composition, functional group structure, micro-morphology and mechanical strength of the binary geopolymer were analyzed. The results indicated that the incorporation of high-calcium silico-aluminous raw materials significantly accelerated geopolymerization process, primarily yielding two hydrated products: N-A-S-H and C-A-S-H gels. The relative proportions of these gels varied with high-calcium slag content, thereby influencing the structural compactness of the geopolymers. Subsequent high-temperature treatments were conducted to investigate changes in phase composition, functional group structure, micro-morphology, mass loss, volume shrinkage, and mechanical strength of the binary geopolymer during the ceramization process. The results demonstrated that, upon high-temperature sintering, the N-A-S-H gel transformed into nepheline, whereas the C-A-S-H gel converted to anorthite at 10–30
This study investigates the structural, optical, and radiation shielding properties of cadmium borate tellurite-based glasses doped with varying concentrations of neodymium oxide (Nd2O3) within the chemical composition (48-x) B2O3 + 28TeO2 + 5CdO + 19Li2O + x Nd2O3, where × is (0, 0.5, 1, 3, and 4) mol μ _L ), mass attenuation ( μ _m ), and Zeff (effective atomic number), particularly at low photon energies. These properties are linked to the density and higher atomic number of Nd2O3, which improve photon attenuation via PEE (photoelectric absorption), CS (Compton scattering), and PP (pair production). The HVL (half-value layer), TVL (tenth-value layer), and MFP (mean free path) drop with increasing Nd content, signifying improved shielding efficiency. Effective electron density and conductivity also increase with Nd2O3 doping, enhancing radiation interaction and detection capabilities.
Quaternary polycrystalline bulk (CeLa)1−xSmxB6 ceramics (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3) are fabricated by spark plasma sintering using a two-step-heating schedule at 1000 °C and 1950 °C. In-situ synthesis is achieved through borothermal reduction of rare earth oxide (REO) and elemental boron (B) starting powders in optimized ratios. This study aims to investigate the influence of Sm substitution on the phase evolution, microstructural development, and mechanical and electrical properties of the sintered ceramics. The materials are characterized using XRD, SEM/EDS, microstructural image analysis, microhardness testing, and electrical resistivity measurements. The results indicate that all sintered ceramics possess a dense matrix consisting of a single-phase REB6 solid solution. Sm doping leads to an increase in lattice distortion, with the lattice parameter shifting from 4.1348 to 4.1501 Å. Furthermore, this promotes the borothermal reduction, which enhances chemical purity by suppressing the formation of REO solid solutions and B secondary phases that otherwise remain as unconsumed grains within the microstructure. The minimization of secondary phases and the solid solution hardening effect contribute to the microhardness. The room-temperature electrical resistivity increases by two orders of magnitude, rising from 10− 6 to 10− 4 Ω⋅m at 30
Laser energy density (LED) was a key parameter controlling the melt-pool behavior, WC particle evolution and wear response of laser cladded Ni60WC coatings, while the relationship between the LED-regulated WC retention/dissolution and the wear mechanism of Ni60WC coatings in Cl-containing solution remained insufficiently clarified. In this study, the Ni60WC coatings were fabricated at the different LEDs of 42, 51 and 60 J·mm− 2, and the effects of LED on the microstructure and tribological behavior in 3.5
To address freshwater scarcity and the growing global demand for clean water, efficient use of seawater through advanced desalination technologies is essential. Pervaporation (PV) has garnered attention as a sustainable and energy-efficient desalination method that mitigates salinity polarization, a common issue in conventional separation processes. However, the long-term performance of hydrophilic polymeric membranes is often compromised by swelling and poor structural stability. In this work, a robust 30 cm-long Zeolite Socony Mobil − 5 (ZSM-5) zeolite membrane supported on α-alumina tubes was fabricated via a scalable one-pot in-situ hydrothermal method, significantly longer than the < 10 cm lengths typically reported. Characterization using X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Mercury Intrusion Porosimeter (MIP), and mechanical testing confirmed a pure ZSM-5 crystalline phase with a uniformly intergrown, crack-free selective layer ( 90 μm). The membrane exhibited mesopores ( 7.6 nm) that enhanced vapor transport and reduced diffusion resistance. During PV desalination, the membrane achieved a maximum water flux of 12.98 kg·m⁻²·h⁻¹ at 80 °C and 1.2 wt
To determine the biomedical potential of silver-doped cobalt ferrite (Ag-CoFe2O4) nanoparticles, a chemical co-precipitation method was employed to prepare nanoparticles and the properties were well characterized. The X-ray diffraction analysis was done to confirm the occurrence of crystalline spinel ferrite structures where the crystallite sizes were in a range of 27–35 nm. Using scanning electron microscopy, it was found that the nanoparticles were slightly aggregated oval-shaped, with the majority of the particles being quasi-spherical and the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicated uniform distribution of Co, Fe, O and Ag elements. The ferrite spinel bonds were also confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The agar well diffusion, MIC, and MBC methods were used to evaluate the antibacterial effect of the nanoparticles on Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pyogenes) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Findings revealed that there was an inhibitory effect that was dose dependent and Gram-positives were more susceptible. Cytotoxic activity on the cells of MCF-7 human breast cancer was analyzed through the MTT assay where cell viability was decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 64 µg/mL which is moderate cytotoxicity. The antioxidant activity determined by the DPPH radical scavenging assay showed a positive correlation with the concentration to 74.3
The thermal shock resistance, high-temperature wear resistance, and application limitations of plating Cr coating, plasma cladding WC–Ni60 coating, and HVAF (high-velocity air-fuel) WC–Cr3C2–Ni coating were investigated in this study. The plasma cladding coating was incomplete and could not bear the important task of protecting the roller substrate. Both plating Cr coating and WC–Cr3C2–Ni coating exhibited excellent resistance to thermal shock at 800 ℃, and provided long-term protection for the substrate. When simulating the equivalent wear threat of 100 tons of steel, the two coatings reduced the surface friction coefficient of the roller body. The WC–Cr3C2–Ni coating had the best effect on reducing the volume of wear loss on the roller body. In terms of environmental impact, HVAF spraying showed far more environmental compatibility than the electroplating process and was the best choice for depositing a wear-resistant coating on a crystallization roller in the era of green metallurgy policy. This experiment reduced the loss of production line in actual production and revealed the limitations of advanced coating preparation technology at present. The results also provided theoretical support for the selection of high-performance coatings in other industrial environments.
The foamed ceramic integrated panel is an emerging building envelope solution prized for its excellent thermal insulation and durability. However, the mechanisms and conditions triggering its cracking remain insufficiently studied. This study combined experimental characterization with theoretical modeling to investigate its cracking behavior under transient thermal loads. Key thermo-mechanical properties were measured, and a thermal conduction model was developed to derive transient temperature fields, deformation, and stress. Results identify the foamed ceramic panel as the system’s weak layer, with a mean tensile strength of 0.50 ± 0.12 MPa and a mean compressive modulus of 696 ± 143 MPa. The critical cracking temperature during transient cooling was determined to be −54.8±7.7 °C, since the lower bound (−47℃) is below the extreme hailstorm temperature drop (−50℃), such weather events may induce cracking—a finding consistent with experimental observations. The findings provide a theoretical foundation for the anti-cracking design and optimization of such systems and offer new insights for studying other insulation materials.
This study investigates the sustainable recovery of raw materials from vitrified sanitaryware process wastewater, offering an environmentally benign alternative to conventional sludge disposal, such as landfilling. The sanitaryware industry faces growing environmental stresses due to high resource consumption and wastewater generation. The research demonstrates the technical feasibility of recovering raw materials through coagulation–flocculation–sedimentation processes using organic coagulants and direct reuse within the same sanitaryware production cycle. Experimental studies optimized recovery using three commercial organic coagulants. All tested coagulants proved highly effective in removing Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). Optimal removal efficiency was strongly influenced by pH, dose, and sedimentation time, with alkaline pH having the most dominant positive effect. Characterisation showed that sludges recovered via organic coagulants had a desirable composition for ceramic reuse, featuring significantly higher Al₂O₃ and lower SiO₂ compared to sludge from conventional wastewater treatment. Crucially, incorporating 10
In this study, the effect of cerium oxide (CeO2) addition ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 wt
Owing to environmental hazards and decline of fossil fuels, there is an urgent need of transition of energy technology, from conventional sources to sustainable clean energy, to fulfill the increasing future energy demand. This requires exploration of novel energy sources and technologies for sustainable clean energy development. In this regard, nuclear and thermoelectric energies are potential alternatives. This study delves into a systematic investigation and computational analysis of temperature, pressure and/or chemical potential dependent phonon dynamics, thermodynamic, and thermoelectric properties of ThO to explore its potential for sustainable clean energy production. For the computation of the target properties, implication of the Ab initio quantum method is employed based on density functional perturbation theory. The study focuses on determining the key structural attributes of ThO, including the equilibrium lattice parameter, bulk modulus, and the first-order derivative of the bulk modulus, achieved by fitting the third-order Birch–Murnaghan equations of state. It is noteworthy that the computed lattice constant closely approximates the values obtained experimentally. Additionally, the research encompasses the assessment of vibrational density of states and phonon dispersion along high symmetry paths of crystal structure. Particular significance is the confirmation of positive optical and acoustic frequencies, affirming the dynamical stability of the geometric structure. The study also pinpoints Einstein’s frequency of approximately 9.59 THz for ThO. Furthermore, this work explores the intricate interplay between thermophysical properties, temperature, pressure, and chemical potential utilizing the quasi-harmonic Debye model. It is evident that, under any given pressure, the bulk modulus experiences a reduction as temperature ascends, consequently leading to an increase in ThO’s compressibility. Notably, the simulation outcomes underscore the dominant influence of temperature on vibrational heat capacity as compared to the effect of pressure.
