镍-金属氢化物电池新型负极材料研究

贮氢合金是镍一金属氢化物电池的核心材料，其综合性能的改善是提高镍一金属氢化物电池性能的关键。本研究以探索镍一金属氢化物电池新型负极材料为目的，以非ABS型贮氢合金为研究对象，采用X射线衍射、Rietveld分析、恒电流充／放电、P-C-T曲线及线性微极化等方法，从基础和潜在应用等方面详细研究了非ABS型合金的结构与电化学性能。对La-Ni体系中非ABS型二元合金的结构和电化学性能的研究表明，LaNi_(228)具有最优异的高倍率充电性能；La_2Ni_7合金电极的高倍率放电性能最佳；La_7Ni_3在低温条件下表现出较好的放电性能。然而，所有得到的La-Ni合金电极容量远低于其理论容量。因此，必须通过进一步研究，如元素取代、热处理、表面处理等来提高其电化学容量。对RENi_3（RE＝La，Ce，Pr，Nd，Sm，Gd，Th，Dy，Ho，Er，Y）研究表明：YNi_3合金因其具有最大的晶胞体积，最小的密度，而表现出最好的高倍率充／放电性能及低温放电性能，但其高温放电性能需要进一步提高，以满足实际应用的要求。用Al、Mn、Ti、Fe、Sn、Si、Cr、M。、Cu和Co十种元素取代Ni进行了大量的配方筛选工作。得到了大量的实验数据，并发现LaNi_(3.7)Al_(0.3)合金电极电化学放电容量最高，达290.8mAh／g；LaNi_(3.7)Mo_(0.3)合金电极的高倍率放电性能最好，在以4200mA/g的电流密度下进行放电时，其放电容量仍达到145.8mA/g；而I镍一金属氢化物电池新型负极材料研究镍一金属氢化物电池新型负极材料的研究Al的取代会使合金电极性能对温度不敏感。以我们的实验为基础，进一步进行合金配方的微调，具有可能开发出具有实用价值的贮氢合金的潜力。在Ar保护下用真空电弧炉熔炼合成了四种Lal一xMg：（NICoAI）3．6体系贮氢合金，制成姐卜Ni电池负极，通过恒电流充／放电方法研究了其电化学性能。结果表明：Lal一xMg：（NiCoAI）3．6体系金属氢化物电极较容易活化，室温下具有优异的高倍率放电性能，在以4200mA／g电流放电时，La卜汉gx（NICoAI）36合金电极的放电容量是ABS型合金电极的3倍，达152hah／g，显示出良好的动力学特性。R，入1兮Ni（R：raree田劝，Ca，Y）型合金因能吸引／释放1．8一1．87％质量的HZ而被认为是种很有希望的贮氢合金。但其吸／放氢平台过高，循环寿命短。如何提高Rh厦g剑19循环稳定性是这类合金能否成功商业化的关键。研究发现，Co能够显著提高ABS型合金电极的循环寿命，但其价格太贵。人们发现Al在提高电极寿命方面与C。有类似的作用，但Al元素的添加因其在碱性电解质的作用下在电极表面易生成致密的氧化膜而不利于氢的扩散，进而对高倍率放电性能不利。入物在提高电极表面活性，改善其高倍率放电性方面作用明显。本工作在前面的基础上用Al和MO联合取代Ni，以期待同时改善La一Mg一Ni一Co合金的循环稳定性和高倍率放电性能。详细研究了La07Mg03Ni切一（A105Mo05）x（x：o，0．2，0．4，0．6，0．8）系列贮氢合金的晶体结构和电化学性能。X射线衍射及Rietveld分析发现：所有La07Mg03Ni4D一x（A105Mo05）x合金均为包含PuNi3结构的六方LaZMgNig相、CaCus结构的LaNis主相及L匆Ni7，LaN儿和LaNi杂相的多相结构。合金中La（La，Mg）剑19相及LaNis相的晶格参数及晶胞体积均随合金中Al和Mo含量的增加而增大。用电化学方法测得的RC一T曲线显示：Al和'fo部分取代Ni降低了氢的平台压力。随合金中Al和Mo含量的增加，电极的电化学容量从329．7（x＝0）、徽橇毓孺鑫盆一11瀚加至365．物A吨（＝0．6）后又降低到351．3毗吨（x＝0．8）。当以1200m刀g的电流密度进行放电时，其I｛RD从62．0％沁0）增加到82．1％沁0．8）。线性微极化结果显示：Al和Mo的添加增大了合金表面的交换电流密度，因而也改善了合金电极的高倍率放电性能。另外，Al和M。取代合金中的Ni增大了氢在电极合金中的扩散系数（D），改善了La07Mgo3Ni4。一x（Alo5M。。5）x（X＝o，0．2，0．4，0．6，0．8）合金电极的低温放电性能（LTD）。

NiCrAlYSi涂层与镍基高温合金基体互扩散行为研究

采用电弧离子镀方法在镍基高温合金DZ125上沉积NiCrAlYSi涂层,通过对不同氧化时间后Al和Cr原子浓度分布曲线的分析,运用Boltzmann-matano方法,计算了Al和Cr元素在1373K分别加热0.5,2h和5h的互扩散系数,并拟合了这三个时间段的计算结果。结果表明:相同温度下,Al和Cr的互扩散系数分别随Al和Cr的原子浓度增加而增大。随氧化时间的延长,Al的互扩散系数随原子浓度的变化先增大然后基本不变,Cr的互扩散系数则逐渐减小;伴随着元素间互扩散行为的增强,涂层中的Al和Cr向基体扩散,基体合金元素Ni,Co,Mo,Ti和W则向涂层扩散,但涂层中Mo和Ti的含量相对较少。由于元素间互扩散行为,涂层中各元素的含量将趋向于更加均匀。

中国煤中22种环境敏感微量元素的地球化学研究

本论文按照统一的采样和统一的分析测试方法对全国煤中22种环境敏感微量元素及全硫含量进行了系统的研究。通过统计学的方法不仅给出了中国煤炭部分环境敏感微量元素的分布范围、算术均值、标准差、几何均值、几何偏差，中位数，而且首次给出了95％置信度下算术均值、几何均值以及元素含量分布的置信区间等，并与前人大量样品的统计结果进行比较。还通过统计分析了部分环境敏感微量元素在我国煤中的主要赋存状态，以及选煤对这部分微量元素的脱除机理和脱除效果等，得到以下几点认识： 1. 通过与前人大量样品统计所得到的结果进行比较，进一步证明了论文中使用的这批样品是中国煤炭平均化学成分的良好代表。本次所分析的23种元素中，As、Be、Co、Cr、Cu、Hg、Pb、Se、Th、Tl、U、F、S等13元素与前人数10年研究的统计结果在分布范围、均值含量等上非常一致，但本次的结果更为可信，更接近中国煤炭平均化学成分的真实状况。此外，本次对这B、Sn这2种元素的分析数据也是目前反映我国煤中分布最具有代表性的数据。 2. 根据样品的无偏性，对平均值的置信区间进行计算。首次给出了全国煤中各元素在95％置信度下的算术均值的置信区间、几何均值的置信区间以及元素含量分布的置信区间等。可以为后人研究各元素在绝大多数煤中的含量及均值情况时作为参考。同时统计分析表明，按照95％置信度计算，16元素的真实平均值在我们所得到的平均值±11％范围之内，最大偏差为硒，在±20％之间。 3. 平均值作为最常用的统计量之一，中国煤中不同元素的不同均值之间有一定的差异，反映了元素在煤中不同的分布状态。论文中通过对23种元素在全国煤中的5种不同的均值比较，一般元素的产量加权均值与总体样品均值之间都比较接近；绝大多数元素的储量加权均值比较低，这与西北、华北地区未开采利用的煤炭资源量大，煤质好有关。 4. 通过与Swaine（1990）给出世界煤中元素的分布范围进行比较，22种环境敏感微量元素在我国煤中的分布处于世界煤的有限范围之内。其中，Cr、Cu、Mn、Mo、Se、Sn、Th、Tl、U、V、F等微量元素在我国煤中的分布与世界煤比较接近，而As、B、Ba、Be、Cd、Co、Cl、Hg、Ni、Pb、Sb等微量元素在我国煤中较世界煤低很多。 5. 与世界主要煤炭资源大国和Swaine（1990）给出的世界煤元素均值含量的比较显示，大部分环境敏感微量元素在我国煤中的均值含量与世界主要煤炭资源大国煤中的均值含量也比较接近。其中，我国煤中B、Co、Cu、Hg、Pb、U等6种元素含量均值与美国煤比较接近，As、Cd、Sb、Tl等4种元素含量均值与澳大利亚煤比较接近，Ba、Cr、Mo、Ni、V等4种元素含量均值与前苏联煤比较接近，Be、Mn、Se、Th、F等5种元素含量均值与世界煤比较接近。 6. 随着煤炭变质程度的增高，各元素均值含量没有表现出明显规律性的增高或降低。但22种环境敏感微量元素在褐煤、弱粘煤、不粘煤、气煤等较低变质程度煤中的含量整体水平不高，绝大多数微量元素主要在中高变质程度煤中较为更为富集。不同成煤时期以及不同聚煤区煤中各种环境敏感微量元素不同的富集程度，从总体上反应了绝大部分环境敏感微量元素在华南煤中更为富集，而占全国储量3/4的华北和西北煤中的总体水平相对较低。 7. 通过对环境敏感微量元素与灰分及主要灰成分之间的关系进行分析，初步了解了它们在煤中的主要赋存状态。煤中绝大部分环境敏感微量元素还是具有非常明显的无机亲和性，在煤中主要以矿物无机形态存在。主要与粘土矿物、黄铁矿及硫化物相结合，而与碳酸盐矿物关系不大。 8. 脱除率的分析显示，15种元素的脱除率与灰分的脱除率之间具有显著的正相关性，说明煤中绝大部分环境敏感微量元素主要以无机形态存在，因此提高原煤入洗率，降低原煤灰分的同时也可以在很大程度上降低环境敏感微量元素的燃煤排放。 9. 部分环境敏感元素的脱除率受到其在煤中的赋存状态、矿物形态、煤级以及选煤厂洗选工艺等诸多因素的影响，在不同样品中脱除率的差异较大。某些样品中微量元素的脱除率较高，最高脱除率可达到70％以上。从平均脱除率来看，灰分、硫分及绝大多数环境敏感微量元素处于30％－70％之间，只有少数几个元素不到20％。

樟村-郑坊黑色岩系钒矿床地质地球化学研究

樟村－郑坊黑色岩系钒矿床产于江南古岛弧外侧的浙赣海底盆地中(即钱塘拗陷西缘)，盆地南面即为著名的绍兴-江山-东乡深断裂，其西段为占华南洋块与江南古岛弧系的碰撞拼接带，东段为江南古岛弧与华夏古陆的对接带。临近矿床的北西方向即北东走向的东乡－德兴－歙县深断裂，为九岭地体与怀玉地晚元古代拼接带。区内发育的构造体系影响了地层的沉积、分布以及岩性，以绍兴-_江山-东乡深断裂为界，以北为江南岛弧区型沉积，以南则为古华南洋(华南褶皱系)型沉积，二者岩性、厚度均有很大的差异；绍兴-江山-东乡深断裂以北，以东乡-德兴－歙县深断裂为界，北西部广泛出露元代双桥山群(九岭群)并零星或呈断块状出露了晚古生代至中生代的地层，南东部地区则除在深断裂边缘狭长地区内分布元古代漆工群外，广泛出露了震旦-奥陶纪的地层，在紧靠绍兴-江山-东乡深断裂的北侧也有晚古生代-中生代的地层展布。矿区出露的地层有震旦系、寒武系、奥陶系和第四系。含矿岩系为下寒武统，矿体主要赋存在荷塘组的下部，即荷塘组上段的第一亚段(_1h~(2-1))。为—套黑色(碳质)硅质岩-细碎屑岩夹少量碎屑碳酸盐建造。反应了含矿岩系形成时缺少陆源粗碎屑和碳酸盐的非补偿性的深水环境，可能属于前弧斜坡、前弧台地或前弧盆地。矿床中的黑色岩系含矿建造主要岩石类型为黑色硅质岩和黑色富(含)长石岩矿物成分主要为石英、长石、粘士(伊利石或绢云母)以及黄铁矿、重品石等。整套岩系富含污染型有机碳。电子探针分析表明，岩石中的长石基本都是钡冰长石，其中Ba的含量最高达18.91％。仅偶见钾长石。因此证实了含矿岩系中发现有大量的钡冰长石存在，富(含)长石岩应为富(含)钡冰长石岩。钡冰长石的产出环境极为有限，黑色岩系中的钡冰长石被认为是热水沉积的标志性矿物，是热水沉积矿床在(早期)成岩作用过程中形成的自生矿物。矿床的容矿岩石是富(含)钡冰长石岩。电子探针研究表明，V主要赋存在一种可能是未定名矿物族的V－Ti氧化物和钾伊利石中。这种V-Ti氧化物的化学通式为V_2O_3·nTiO_2，n = 4-9；对该类矿物微区X-衍射的数据分析表明，该类矿物可能属于三斜晶系。整个含矿岩系富Ba、K、V，缺Na、Mn和Mg、Ca。矿床的地质地球化学研究表明，V与火山或热水沉积来源的元素Ba、Se和亲基性元素Cr、Co、Ni、Ti、Fe等呈明显的正相关，表明它们之间可能的同源关系，也显示了它们不同于正常沉积环境产物的特征，可能代表了热水沉积作用；此外，V与K、Al、Ga也呈明显的正相关，这可能是两方面原因造成的：1．含V岩石中大量存在钡冰长石，且V含量随Ba含量的增高而增高：2．一部分V存在于粘土矿物之中。因此导致了V与Al、K的正相关。至于Ga，由于其离子半径与Al~(3+)相似，因而其地球化学行为受Al~(3+)的控制，所以也与V呈正相关关系。V与LOI、Si等负相关。 REE研究表明，矿床中的硅质岩LREE与HREE强烈分馏，球粒陨石标准化分布模式表现为右倾的没有或有极弱的Ce负异常、有中等的Eu负异常的图形，其NASC分布模式为一右倾的图形，这可能反应了未与海水充分混合的热水快速化学沉积过程。作为容矿岩石的富(含)钡冰长石岩的球粒陨石标准化模式为右倾的有中等Ce负异常和中等Eu负异常的图形，NASC标准化分布模式富集中稀土和重稀土，与现代热水沉积物相似。弱Yb负异常可能反应了玄武岩的REE分配模式。地质和地球化学特征表明了该矿床可能的热水(喷流)沉积成因。硅质岩是典型的热水沉积岩，富(含)钡冰长石岩是陆源物质在同生沉积过程中受到热水流体作用改造形成的热水沉积岩。V、Ti、Ba、Si等元素可能来源于海底火山岩，Al、K则可能来源于陆源物质和海底岩石的海解作用。该矿床可能应属于主要为海底化学沉积系统的海底热水环境。基于对其地质地球化学特征的考察，作者对该矿床的成矿模式作了以下假设：下渗的海水与海底岩石发生反应并在此过程中受到下部热源的加热，使其变为酸性且通过淋滤富含Ba、V、Ti、Co、Cr、Mo、Ni、Si等元素；热水溶液沿温度和压力降低的方向折回海底，透过海底的松散沉积物，并最终溢出海底，由于温压的释放和海水的混合，热水流体迅速达到饱和并以各种方式沉积出流体中的元素：V、Ti、Ba、Si等。在通过海底沉积物时，流体在其中进行了交代。

Predictions of the Pt(8)Ti phase in unexpected systems.

The binary A(8)B phase (prototype Pt(8)Ti) has been experimentally observed in 11 systems. A high-throughput search over all the binary transition intermetallics, however, reveals 59 occurrences of the A(8)B phase: Au(8)Zn(dagger), Cd(8)Sc(dagger), Cu(8)Ni(dagger), Cu(8)Zn(dagger), Hg(8)La, Ir(8)Os(dagger), Ir(8)Re, Ir(8)Ru(dagger), Ir(8)Tc, Ir(8)W(dagger), Nb(8)Os(dagger), Nb(8)Rh(dagger), Nb(8)Ru(dagger), Nb(8)Ta(dagger), Ni(8)Fe, Ni(8)Mo(dagger)*, Ni(8)Nb(dagger)*, Ni(8)Ta*, Ni(8)V*, Ni(8)W, Pd(8)Al(dagger), Pd(8)Fe, Pd(8)Hf, Pd(8)Mn, Pd(8)Mo*, Pd(8)Nb, Pd(8)Sc, Pd(8)Ta, Pd(8)Ti, Pd(8)V*, Pd(8)W*, Pd(8)Zn, Pd(8)Zr, Pt(8)Al(dagger), Pt(8)Cr*, Pt(8)Hf, Pt(8)Mn, Pt(8)Mo, Pt(8)Nb, Pt(8)Rh(dagger), Pt(8)Sc, Pt(8)Ta, Pt(8)Ti*, Pt(8)V*, Pt(8)W, Pt(8)Zr*, Rh(8)Mo, Rh(8)W, Ta(8)Pd, Ta(8)Pt, Ta(8)Rh, V(8)Cr(dagger), V(8)Fe(dagger), V(8)Ir(dagger), V(8)Ni(dagger), V(8)Pd, V(8)Pt, V(8)Rh, and V(8)Ru(dagger) ((dagger) = metastable, * = experimentally observed). This is surprising for the wealth of new occurrences that are predicted, especially in well-characterized systems (e.g., Cu-Zn). By verifying all experimental results while offering additional predictions, our study serves as a striking demonstration of the power of the high-throughput approach. The practicality of the method is demonstrated in the Rh-W system. A cluster-expansion-based Monte Carlo model reveals a relatively high order-disorder transition temperature.

Chemical Evaluation of Selected Organics and Trace Metals in the Mangrove Macroflora Of Cochin

Mangroves are considered to play a significant role in global carbon cycling. Themangrove forests would fix CO2 by photosynthesis into mangrove lumber and thus decrease the possibility of a catastrophic series of events - global warming by atmospheric CO2, melting of the polar ice caps, and inundation of the great coastal cities of the world. The leaf litter and roots are the main contributors to mangrove sediments, though algal production and allochthonous detritus can also be trapped (Kristensen et al, 2008) by mangroves due to their high organic matter content and reducing nature are excellent metal retainers. Environmental pollution due to metals is of major concern. This is due to the basic fact that metals are not biodegradable or perishable the way most organic pollutants are. While most organic toxicants can be destroyed by combustion and converted into compounds such as C0, C02, SOX, NOX, metals can't be destroyed. At the most the valance and physical form of metals may change. Concentration of metals present naturally in air, water and soil is very low. Metals released into the environment through anthropogenic activities such as burning of fossils fuels, discharge of industrial effluents, mining, dumping of sewage etc leads to the development of higher than tolerable or toxic levels of metals in the environment leading to metal pollution. Of course, a large number of heavy metals such as Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, Cr, Mo, and V are essential to plants and animals and deficiency of these metals may lead to diseases, but at higher levels, it would lead to metal toxicity. Almost all industrial processes and urban activities involve release of at least trace quantities of half a dozen metals in different forms. Heavy metal pollution in the environment can remain dormant for a long time and surface with a vengeance. Once an area gets toxified with metals, it is almost impossible to detoxify it. The symptoms of metal toxicity are often quite similar to the symptoms of other common diseases such as respiratory problems, digestive disorders, skin diseases, hypertension, diabetes, jaundice etc making it all the more difficult to diagnose metal poisoning. For example the Minamata disease caused by mercury pollution in addition to affecting the nervous system can disturb liver function and cause diabetes and hypertension. The damage caused by heavy metals does not end up with the affected person. The harmful effects can be transferred to the person's progenies. Ironically heavy metal pollution is a direct offshoot of our increasing ability to mass produce metals and use them in all spheres of existence. Along with conventional physico- chemical methods, biosystem approachment is also being constantly used for combating metal pollution

Tailoring Magnetic Properties of Co-Fe Thin Films by Topographical Modifications Using Thermal Annealing and Swift Heavy Ion Irradiation and Fabrication of Magnetoelectric Multilayers for Device Applications

Magnetism and magnetic materials have been playing a lead role in improving the quality of life. They are increasingly being used in a wide variety of applications ranging from compasses to modern technological devices. Metallic glasses occupy an important position among magnetic materials. They assume importance both from a scientific and an application point of view since they represent an amorphous form of condensed matter with significant deviation from thermodynamic equilibrium. Metallic glasses having good soft magnetic properties are widely used in tape recorder heads, cores of high-power transformers and metallic shields. Superconducting metallic glasses are being used to produce high magnetic fields and magnetic levitation effect. Upon heat treatment, they undergo structural relaxation leading to subtle rearrangements of constituent atoms. This leads to densification of amorphous phase and subsequent nanocrystallisation. The short-range structural relaxation phenomenon gives rise to significant variations in physical, mechanical and magnetic properties. Magnetic amorphous alloys of Co-Fe exhibit excellent soft magnetic properties which make them promising candidates for applications as transformer cores, sensors, and actuators. With the advent of microminiaturization and nanotechnology, thin film forms of these alloys are sought after for soft under layers for perpendicular recording media. The thin film forms of these alloys can also be used for fabrication of magnetic micro electro mechanical systems (magnetic MEMS). In bulk, they are drawn in the form of ribbons, often by melt spinning. The main constituents of these alloys are Co, Fe, Ni, Si, Mo and B. Mo acts as the grain growth inhibitor and Si and B facilitate the amorphous nature in the alloy structure. The ferromagnetic phases such as Co-Fe and Fe-Ni in the alloy composition determine the soft magnetic properties. The grain correlation length, a measure of the grain size, often determines the soft magnetic properties of these alloys. Amorphous alloys could be restructured in to their nanocrystalline counterparts by different techniques. The structure of nanocrystalline material consists of nanosized ferromagnetic crystallites embedded in an amorphous matrix. When the amorphous phase is ferromagnetic, they facilitate exchange coupling between nanocrystallites. This exchange coupling results in the vanishing of magnetocrystalline anisotropy which improves the soft magnetic properties. From a fundamental perspective, exchange correlation length and grain size are the deciding factors that determine the magnetic properties of these nanocrystalline materials. In thin films, surfaces and interfaces predominantly decides the bulk property and hence tailoring the surface roughness and morphology of the film could result in modified magnetic properties. Surface modifications can be achieved by thermal annealing at various temperatures. Ion irradiation is an alternative tool to modify the surface/structural properties. The surface evolution of a thin film under swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiation is an outcome of different competing mechanism. It could be sputtering induced by SHI followed by surface roughening process and the material transport induced smoothening process. The impingement of ions with different fluence on the alloy is bound to produce systematic microstructural changes and this could effectively be used for tailoring magnetic parameters namely coercivity, saturation magnetization, magnetic permeability and remanence of these materials. Swift heavy ion irradiation is a novel and an ingenious tool for surface modification which eventually will lead to changes in the bulk as well as surface magnetic property. SHI has been widely used as a method for the creation of latent tracks in thin films. The bombardment of SHI modifies the surfaces or interfaces or creates defects, which induces strain in the film. These changes will have profound influence on the magnetic anisotropy and the magnetisation of the specimen. Thus inducing structural and morphological changes by thermal annealing and swift heavy ion irradiation, which in turn induce changes in the magnetic properties of these alloys, is one of the motivation of this study. Multiferroic and magneto-electrics is a class of functional materials with wide application potential and are of great interest to material scientists and engineers. Magnetoelectric materials combine both magnetic as well as ferroelectric properties in a single specimen. The dielectric properties of such materials can be controlled by the application of an external magnetic field and the magnetic properties by an electric field. Composites with magnetic and piezo/ferroelectric individual phases are found to have strong magnetoelectric (ME) response at room temperature and hence are preferred to single phasic multiferroic materials. Currently research in this class of materials is towards optimization of the ME coupling by tailoring the piezoelectric and magnetostrictive properties of the two individual components of ME composites. The magnetoelectric coupling constant (MECC) (_ ME) is the parameter that decides the extent of interdependence of magnetic and electric response of the composite structure. Extensive investigates have been carried out in bulk composites possessing on giant ME coupling. These materials are fabricated by either gluing the individual components to each other or mixing the magnetic material to a piezoelectric matrix. The most extensively investigated material combinations are Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) or Lead Magnesium Niobate-Lead Titanate (PMNPT) as the piezoelectric, and Terfenol-D as the magnetostrictive phase and the coupling is measured in different configurations like transverse, longitudinal and inplane longitudinal. Fabrication of a lead free multiferroic composite with a strong ME response is the need of the hour from a device application point of view. The multilayer structure is expected to be far superior to bulk composites in terms of ME coupling since the piezoelectric (PE) layer can easily be poled electrically to enhance the piezoelectricity and hence the ME effect. The giant magnetostriction reported in the Co-Fe thin films makes it an ideal candidate for the ferromagnetic component and BaTiO3 which is a well known ferroelectric material with improved piezoelectric properties as the ferroelectric component. The multilayer structure of BaTiO3- CoFe- BaTiO3 is an ideal system to understand the underlying fundamental physics behind the ME coupling mechanism. Giant magnetoelectric coupling coefficient is anticipated for these multilayer structures of BaTiO3-CoFe-BaTiO3. This makes it an ideal candidate for cantilever applications in magnetic MEMS/NEMS devices. SrTiO3 is an incipient ferroelectric material which is paraelectric up to 0K in its pure unstressed form. Recently few studies showed that ferroelectricity can be induced by application of stress or by chemical / isotopic substitution. The search for room temperature magnetoelectric coupling in SrTiO3-CoFe-SrTiO3 multilayer structures is of fundamental interest. Yet another motivation of the present work is to fabricate multilayer structures consisting of CoFe/ BaTiO3 and CoFe/ SrTiO3 for possible giant ME coupling coefficient (MECC) values. These are lead free and hence promising candidates for MEMS applications. The elucidation of mechanism for the giant MECC also will be the part of the objective of this investigation.

Use of checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization to evaluate the internal contamination of dental implants and comparison of bacterial leakage with cast or pre-machined abutments

To evaluate the checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization method for detection and quantitation of bacteria from the internal parts of dental implants and to compare bacterial leakage from implants connected either to cast or to pre-machined abutments. Nine plastic abutments cast in a Ni-Cr alloy and nine pre-machined Co-Cr alloy abutments with plastic sleeves cast in Ni-Cr were connected to Branemark-compatible implants. A group of nine implants was used as control. The implants were inoculated with 3 mu l of a solution containing 10(8) cells/ml of Streptococcus sobrinus. Bacterial samples were immediately collected from the control implants while assemblies were completely immersed in 5 ml of sterile Tripty Soy Broth (TSB) medium. After 14 days of anaerobic incubation, occurrence of leakage at the implant-abutment interface was evaluated by assessing contamination of the TSB medium. Internal contamination of the implants was evaluated with the checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization method. DNA-DNA hybridization was sensitive enough to detect and quantify the microorganism from the internal parts of the implants. No differences in leakage and in internal contamination were found between cast and pre-machined abutments. Bacterial scores in the control group were significantly higher than in the other groups (P < 0.05). Bacterial leakage through the implant-abutment interface does not significantly differ when cast or pre-machined abutments are used. The checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization technique is suitable for the evaluation of the internal contamination of dental implants although further studies are necessary to validate the use of computational methods for the improvement of the test accuracy. To cite this article:do Nascimento C, Barbosa RES, Issa JPM, Watanabe E, Ito IY, Albuquerque Junior RF. Use of checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization to evaluate the internal contamination of dental implants and comparison of bacterial leakage with cast or pre-machined abutments.Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 20, 2009; 571-577.doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0501.2008.01663.x.

An Alternative Section Method for Casting and Posterior Laser Welding of Metallic Frameworks for an Implant-Supported Prosthesis

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of fit of three types of implant-supported frameworks cast in Ni-Cr alloy: specifically, a framework cast as one piece compared to frameworks cast separately in sections to the transverse or the diagonal axis, and later laser welded. Materials and Methods: Three sets of similar implant-supported frameworks were constructed. The first group of six 3-unit implant-supported frameworks were cast as one piece, the second group of six were sectioned in the transverse axis of the pontic region prior to casting, and the last group of six were sectioned in the diagonal axis of the pontic region prior to casting. The sectioned frameworks were positioned in the matrix (10 N(.)cm torque) and laser welded. To evaluate passive fit, readings were made with an optical microscope with both screws tightened and with only one-screw tightened. Data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer`s test (p < 0.05). Results: When both screws were tightened, no differences were found between the three groups (p > 0.05). In the single-screw-tightened test, with readings made opposite to the tightened side, the group cast as one piece (57.02 +/- 33.48 mu m) was significantly different (p < 0.05) from the group sectioned diagonally (18.92 +/- 4.75 mu m) but no different (p > 0.05) from the group transversally sectioned (31.42 +/- 20.68 mu m). On the tightened side, no significant differences were found between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Results of this study showed that casting diagonally sectioned frameworks lowers misfit levels of prosthetic implant-supported frameworks and also improves the levels of passivity to the same frameworks when compared to structures cast as one piece.

Comparative analysis of the fit of 3-unit implant-supported frameworks cast in nickel-chromium and cobalt-chromium alloys and commercially pure titanium after casting, laser welding, and simulated porcelain firings

This study compared the vertical misfit of 3-unit implant-supported nickel-chromium (Ni-Cr) and cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloy and commercially pure titanium (cpTi) frameworks after casting as 1 piece, after sectioning and laser welding, and after simulated porcelain firings. The results on the tightened side showed no statistically significant differences. On the opposite side, statistically significant differences were found for Co-Cr alloy (118.64 mu m [SD: 91.48] to 39.90 mu m [SD: 27.13]) and cpTi (118.56 mu m [51.35] to 27.87 mu m [12.71]) when comparing 1-piece to laser-welded frameworks. With both sides tightened, only Co-Cr alloy showed statistically significant differences after laser welding. Ni-Cr alloy showed the lowest misfit values, though the differences were not statistically significantly different. Simulated porcelain firings revealed no significant differences.

Efeito das variáveis laboratoriais protéticas na adesão da porcelana com ligas de níquel-cromo

The metalceramic crowns are usually used in dentistry because they provide a resistant structure due to its metallic base and its aesthetics from the porcelain that recovers this structure. To manufacture these crowns, a series of stages should be accomplished in the prosthetic laboratories, and many variables can influence its success. Changes in these variables cause alterations in the metallic alloy and in the porcelain, so, as consequence, in the adhesion between them. The composition of the metal alloy can be modified by recasting alloys, a common practice in some prosthetic laboratories. The aim of this paper is to make a systematic study investigating metalceramic crowns as well as analyzing the effect of recasting Ni-Cr alloys. Another variable which can influence the mechanism of metalceramic union is the temperature used in firing porcelain procedure. Each porcelain has to be fired in a fixed temperature which is determined by the manufacturer and its change can cause serious damages. This research simulate situations that may occur on laboratory procedures and observe their consequences in the quality of the metalceramic union. A scanning eletron microscopy and an optic microscopy were accomplish to analyse the metal-ceramic interface. No differences have been found when remelting alloys were used. The microhardness were similar in Ni-Cr alloys casted once, twice and three times. A wettability test was accomplished using a software developed at the Laboratório de Processamento de Materiais por Plasma, on the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. No differences were found in the contact angle between the solid surface (metallic substratum) and the tangencial plane to the liquid surface (opaque). To analyse if the temperature of porcelain firing procedure could influence the contact area between metal and porcelain, a variation in its final temperature was achieve from 980° to 955°C. Once more, no differences have been found

Photoelastic Stress Analysis in Screwed and Cemented Implant-Supported Dentures With External Hexagon Implants

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Photoelastic Analysis of Cemented or Screwed Implant-Supported Prostheses With Different Prostheses Connections

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação da resistência de união metalocerâmica em função de diferentes tempos de oxidação prévia

Avaliou-se a resistência de união metal/porcelana utilizando-se uma liga de Ni-Cr, submetida a diferentes tempos de oxidação prévia com o sistema cerâmico Vita-VMK, através do teste preconizado por CHIODI NETTO3. A análise dos resultados permitiu as seguintes conclusões: a ausência da oxidação prévia possibilitou os melhores resultados, sendo que a diferença foi estatisticamente significante; diferentes tempos de oxidação prévia provocaram redução acentuada nos valores obtidos e foram semelhantes entre si; o grupo submetido ao processo de jateamento após a oxidação prévia por cinco minutos mostrou resultados similares aos grupos que também passaram pelo processo de oxidação e não sofreram jateamento posterior.

Influência de diferentes agentes de fixação na resistência de união, por tração, de ligas metálicas fixadas à dentina.

They were casted pieces using three kinds of alloy (Ni-Cr, Ag-Sn and Cu-Al) with circular and smooth surface. They were cemented to human teeth, on occlusal surface, grounded at dentin level, through three different materials kind (zinc polycarboxylate cement, glassionomer cement and composite). After 24 hours storing, the samples were subjected to the tensile test. The results showed that the samples cemented with composite and the casts made with Ag-Sn alloy had higher bond strength.