Supatra Jinawath

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles formed under a wet mechanochemical method

Hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles were synthesized using a wet mechanochemical method without a calcination process. Dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (CaHPO4 ·2H2 O) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3 ) were mixed and milled in a planary mill using ethanol or water as liquid media in the two different synthesized routes. Effects of rotation speed and milling time on the final products formed have been studied. Experimental results showed that HA phase having a characteristic of low crystallinity could be formed under the synthesis route using water. The original phases of both starting chemicals were remained without HA formation in the synthesis route using ethanol. Particle size and morphology of HA nanoparticles were obviously depended on optimum conditions of rotation speed and milling time. Differences on phase formation in both synthesized routes have been considered and discussed based on occurring chemical reaction possibilities.

Fabrication of Silicon Nitride Dental Core Ceramics with Borosilicate Veneering material

Silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramic is a great candidate for clinical applications due to its high fracture toughness, strength, hardness and bio-inertness. This study has focused on the Si3N4 ceramic as a dental core material. The white Si3N4 was prepared by pressureless sintering at relative low sintering temperature of 1650 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of Si3N4 ceramic is lower than that of Zirconia and Alumina ceramic which are popular in this field. The borosilicate glass veneering was employed due to its compatibility in thermal expansion. The sintered Si3N4 specimens represented the synthetic dental core were paintbrush coated by a veneer paste composed of borosilicate glass powder (<150 micrometer, Pyrex) with 5 wt% of zirconia powder (3 wt% Y2O3 – partial stabilized zirconia) and 30 wt% of polyvinyl alcohol (5 wt% solution). After coating the veneer on the Si3N4 specimens, the firing was performed in electric tube furnace between 1000-1200°C. The veneered specimens fired at 1100°C for 15 mins show good bonding, smooth and glossy without defect and crazing. The veneer has thermal expansion coefficient as 3.98×10−6 °C−1, rather white and semi opaque, due to zirconia addition, the Vickers hardness as 4.0 GPa which is closely to the human teeth.

Improving shear bond strength between feldspathic porcelain and zirconia substructure with lithium disilicate glass-ceramic liner.

This study investigated the shear bond strength (SBS) between veneering porcelain and zirconia substructure using lithium disilicate glass-ceramic as a liner. The mineral phases and microstructures of lithium disilicate glass-ceramic at temperature range of 800-900°C were preliminarily investigated. SBSs of porcelain-veneered zirconia specimens with and without lithium disilicate glassceramic liner fired at the same temperature were determined. Results showed that SBSs of veneering porcelain and zirconia with lithium disilicate glass-ceramic liner was notably increased (p<0.05). Specimens from the group with the highest SBS (59.7 MPa) were subject to thermocycling up to 10,000 cycles and their post-thermocycling SBSs investigated. Though weakened by thermocycling, SBSs were above the clinically acceptable limit (25 MPa) of ISO 9693. Fractographic analysis revealed mixed cohesive and adhesive failures. It was concluded that lithium disilicate glass-ceramic is a potential liner which generated high SBS between veneering porcelain and zirconia.

Photocatalytic Activity of Mixed Phase TiO2 from Microwave-Assisted Synthesis

Photocatalyst is an environmental clean-up material when exposed to light. It can decompose organic compounds, bacteria and fungi as well as foul odors. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has long been well known for its powerful photocatalytic activity. However, its properties depend on several factors and synthesis method is one of them. In this work, TiO2 powders were prepared by three methods, namely microwave-assisted hydrolysis of titanium oxysulfate (TiOSO4), hydrolysis of TiOSO4, and also by calcining of TiOSO4. Photocatalytic activity of the obtained TiO2 powders were evaluated through the decomposition of methylene blue in comparison with P25 (Degussa). Results showed that the TiO2 prepared at conditions of microwave 100 watts, irradiation time of 10 min was most effective when compared with the others in this work.

Synthesis and Sintering of Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Nanopowders Prepared by Precipitation Method using Ammonium Hydrogen Carbonate as a Precipitant

Magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4) is widely used in many engineering applications due to its high melting point (2135°C), high mechanical strength, chemical inertness, and good optical properties. Precipitation method is recognized as a convenient and cost-effective method for the synthesis of nanopowders. In this present work, MgAl2O4 nanopowders were prepared by precipitation method using ammonium hydrogen carbonate as a precipitant. The precipitated precursors were a mixture of ammonium dawsonite (NH4Al (OH)2CO3·H2O) and hydrotalcite (Mg6Al2(CO3)(OH)16·4H2O). After calcining at 1100°C for 2 hours, The MgAl2O4 nanopowders with particle size of 20-170 nm were obtained. The sinterability of the MgAl2O4 nanopowders was evaluated by sintering compacts of the MgAl2O4 nanopowders at temperature of 1300-1650°C for 2 hours. The relative density of the sintered MgAl2O4 ceramics reached about >97% of theoretical density after sintering at 1500°C for 2 hours. The Vicker’s hardness of the sintered ceramics reached a value of 1414 HV (13.9 GPa) after sintering at 1650°C for 2 hours.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of TiO2/SiO2 Hybrid Photocatalyst from Rice Husk Ash

Photocatalyst materials were prepared as a hybrid between TiO2 /SiO2 via low temperature hydrothermal method (150oC) without further heat treatment. Porous silica from rice husk ash was used as a support for fine TiO2 particles which acted as a photocatalyst when radiated with a UV light. TiO2-deposited SiO2 was successfully prepared through hydrolysis of TiOSO4 solution by controlling synthesis parameters such as pH ,concentration of TiOSO4, temperature and time under hydrothermal treatment. The obtained products were characterized for physical and chemical properties by means of XRD, XRF, BET and TEM . It was found that pH had an influence on the crystallization of TiO2, and under an appropriated pH, only anatase presented along with amorphous phase. High crystallinity of nano-crystalline anatase ( about 5 nm) deposited on silica surface was observed through TEM. Adsorption and photocatalytic performances of the prepared catalyst were evaluated in methylene blue aqueous solution in the dark and under ultraviolet ray irradiation, respectively. Due to the synergetic functions of adsorption by porous substrate and decomposition by TiO2 photocatalyst, an enhancing of photocatalytic activity for decomposition of organic pollutants in water under UV rays was obtained.

Surface Characteristics of HA and β-TCP Immersed in SBF

Bioactivity of biomaterials is recognized to be of importance and the behavior of nanosized HA and β-TCP particles is described and compared. The study focuses on the influence of the phase transformation and grain size on the reprecipitation of calcium phosphate and the effect of immersion time in SBF on the surface characteristics of the samples. The HA and β-TCP samples were fabricated by mixing the powders in a ball mill, drying, uniaxial pressing and sintering at 1150oC for 240 minute using fixed heating and cooling rates. The densified samples were then immersed in a simulated body fluid (SBF) for controlled periods of time in order to investigate their bioactivities. Changes in the surface structure were examined to investigate and characterize phase formation and the chemical functionality of the samples.

Preparation of Calcium Phosphate Cement Utilizing Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate and Calcium Carbonate

Calcium phosphate cement has been widely used as a bone substitute because of its chemical similarity to natural bone. In this study, calcium phosphate cement was prepared using dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (CaHPO4.2H2O) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as starting raw materials. The cement pastes were mixed and the chemistry adjusted with two different aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and disodium hydrogen phosphate (Na2HPO4). Concentrations of the solution were varied in the range 0.5 to 5.0 mol/L with the ratio of solid/liquid = 2 g/ml. The cement paste was then poured into a silicone mold having a diameter of 10 mm and a height 15 mm. Setting times for the cement were measured using a Vicat apparatus. XRD, FT-IR, and SEM techniques were used to characterize properties and microstructure of the cement. From the experimental results, it is clear that different concentrations of Na2HPO4 and NaOH have affected the setting times of the cement. The relationship between concentration of NaOH and Na2HPO4 and setting time, including final properties of the cement, is discussed.

Anodic Oxide Film Formed on Ti-6Al-4V at a Low Current Density in Monocalciumphosphate Monohydrate (MCPM) Electrolyte and its Biocompatibility

Anodic oxide film on titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) substrate was prepared by anodization. The reaction was done by applying low current densities from 0.25 to 2 mA/cm2 for 30 minutes using monocalciumphosphate monohydrate (MCPM) solution as an electrolyte. Essential parameters which affected to the formation of anodic oxide film were studied. The properties of the anodic oxide film would be optimized when the parameters were appropriately controlled. Increasing of the current density and the concentration of MCPM electrolyte could promote hydrophilicity and surface roughness of the film. After anodization, the anodic oxide film formed at 2 mA/cm2 in 1M MCPM showed the best hydrophilicity (lowest water contact angle) and the film formed at 0.25 mA/cm2 in 0.5M MCPM showed the lowest hydrophilicity (highest water contact angle). XPS analyses confirmed that the chemical species of as-anodized film formed at 2 mA/cm2 in 1M MCPM changed. Ti2p spectra scarcely changed while the O1s spectra significantly changed due to the presence of chemisorbed water and Ti-OH formed during anodization. The SEM micrographs also revealed the biocompatibility from the growth of the cementoblast cell on anodized surface. It was indicated that anodization using MCPM as an electrolyte at 2 mA/cm2 in 1M MCPM could modify the surface roughness and chemical species and that both are likely to be crucial key factors for enhancing of hydrophilicity of as-anodized film which would enhance the biocompatibility of Ti-6Al-4V as a result.

Fabrication of Dental Ceramics from Silicon Nitride Core with Borosilicate Glass Veneer

Silicon nitride ceramic is a potential material for clinical indications due to its high fracture toughness, strength, and non-cytotoxicity. For this reason, Si3N4 ceramic is interested to apply for dental core. The superiority of Si3N4 ceramic is the low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) which is lower than that of zirconia and alumina ceramics that are popular in this field. In this study, borosilicate glass powder with 5 wt% of zirconia addition was prepared by melting at 1450 °C for 1 h. The glass melt was quenched and was then ground to be a powder and mixed with polyvinyl alcohol solution to be a paste. The Si3N4 specimens coated with the veneer were fired in electrical tubular furnace at 1100 °C for 15 min. The appearance of these specimens shows smooth, glossy without defect and crazing. The veneer has thermal expansion coefficient as 3.05x10-6 °C-1 and the Vickers hardness as 4.0 GPa which is close to the human teeth. The specimens were tested by human gingival and periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HGF and HPDLF) and cytotoxicity by MTT assay. The results indicated that Si3N4 ceramic and borosilicate glass can be used as dental materials.