NIOM have 17 laboratories, and a vast, up- to date instrument park. Today we would like to highlight our new key instrument in materials research, nicknamed the SEM.
Bonding of zirconia crowns and bridges to abutments is important, not only bonding of the thin resin layer to the abutment, but also bonding to the zirconia ceramic is crucial. Both mechanical and chemical adhesion are desired. Mechanical retention of dental porcelain achieved by etching with moderately concentrated hydrofluoric acid is not possible with zirconia ceramics. The purpose of this study was to show that etching is possible with relative low melting fluoride compounds such as ammonium hydrogen difluoride and potassium hydrogen difluoride.
Aim of study: Determine flexural strength and modulus after water storage and thermal cycling of carbon–graphite fiber-reinforced (CGFR) polymers based on poly(methyl methacrylate) and a copolymer matrix, and to examine adhesion between fiber and matrix by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Results suggest that by increasing the polymerization temperature, the monomers of the denture base polymers diffused more effectively into acrylic resin polymer teeth. This increases the bond strength between the polymer teeth and the denture base polymer.