Bond strength of fibre glass and carbon fibre posts to the root canal walls using different resin cements

The aim of the study was to evaluate the bond strength of fibre glass and carbon fibre posts in the root canal walls cemented with self-adhesive (RelyX-Unicem) and chemical (Cement-Post) resin cements. Forty maxillary canines were divided into four groups according to the cement and post used and submitted to the push-out test (0.5 mm min(-1)). The data were submitted to statistical analysis (2-way ANOVA, Bonferroni - P < 0.05) and fracture analysis by Scanning Electronic Microscopy. Fibre glass presented the best results when cemented with RelyX-Unicem and Cement-Post (P < 0.05). RelyX-Unicem presented the highest bond strength values for both posts (P < 0.05). Fracture analysis showed predominance of cohesive fracture of post for RelyX-Unicem and adhesive fracture between dentin/cement and mixed for Cement-Post. The bond strength values were significantly affected by the type of post and cement used and the highest values were found for fibre glass posts and RelyX-Unicem.

Effects of natural weathering on microstructure and mineral composition of cementitious roofing tiles reinforced with fique fibre

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effects of 14 years of weathering exposition on the microstructure and mineral composition of cementitious roofing tiles, still in service, reinforced with fique fibres (Furcrae gender). The results show that tiles under weathering exposition presented higher water absorption and apparent void volume than tiles under laboratory exposition. The continuous hydration of cement and natural carbonation filled the smaller pores but contrarily the large pores remained in the porous fibre to matrix interface in the samples exposed to weathering. On the other hand, their microstructure presented lower air permeability than samples aged in the internal environment of the laboratory. Besides, in the weathering aged tiles takes place a more intensive hydration process as it was identified greater amount of hydrated phases than in the laboratory aged specimens. The present results contribute to understanding the consequences of tropical weathering on the fibre-cement degradation. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of accelerated carbonation on cementitious roofing tiles reinforced with lignocellulosic fibre

The present work evaluated the effects of accelerated carbonation on mechanical and physical characteristics of cementitious roofing tiles reinforced with vegetable fibre. The maximum load and toughness of the tiles have increased approximately 25% and 80% respectively as a consequence of the accelerated carbonation. Water absorption and apparent porosity decreased with carbonation while bulk density increased as a clear indication of the densification of the composite. The improvement on the mechanical performance suggests that the fibres retained their tensile strength in the inorganic matrix. Results of specimens extracted from the tested tiles after approximately 480 days in laboratory environment and further aged indicate that soak and dry cycles promoted some leaching of hydration products and more voids and lower density when performed before carbonation. The results indicate the utilization of accelerated carbonation as an effective procedure to mitigate the degradation suffered by the cellulose fibres in the less aggressive medium. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NIELSEN COINCIDENCE THEORY OF FIBRE-PRESERVING MAPS AND DOLD`S FIXED POINT INDEX

Let M -> B, N -> B be fibrations and f(1), f(2): M -> N be a pair of fibre-preserving maps. Using normal bordism techniques we define an invariant which is an obstruction to deforming the pair f(1), f(2) over B to a coincidence free pair of maps. In the special case where the two fibrations axe the same and one of the maps is the identity, a weak version of our omega-invariant turns out to equal Dold`s fixed point index of fibre-preserving maps. The concepts of Reidemeister classes and Nielsen coincidence classes over B are developed. As an illustration we compute e.g. the minimal number of coincidence components for all homotopy classes of maps between S(1)-bundles over S(1) as well as their Nielsen and Reidemeister numbers.