Crystal Modification on Lithium Disilicate Glass Ceramics Sintered Using Microwaves / Modificación de Cristales de Cerémicas de Vidrio de Disilicato de Litio Sinterizadas con Microondas

ABSTRACT: Microwaves are an interesting alternative to process dental ceramics. It is well documented that Microwave Hybrid Sintering (MHS) allows important savings in time and energy consumption. However, little is known about its effect on lithium disilicate glass ceramics, a popular material in dentistry today. We analyzed the microstructure of lithium disilicate glass ceramics sintered with MHS compared with conventional sintering. We sintered lithium disilicate glass ceramics using MHS and conventional furnaces, and we analyzed the samples using X-Ray diffraction and SEM. Samples sintered with MHS showed an increased crystalline phase, with an increased number of crystals. These crystals have larger perimeters compared with samples sintered in conventional furnaces. MHS produced a different crystallization pattern and crystal/ matrix ration in lithium disilicate glass ceramics when compared to conventional sintering. This can be associated with the improved mechanical properties of these materials reported previously.

RESUMEN: Las microondas son una interesante alternativa para procesar cerámicas dentales. Está bien documentado que el Sinterizado Híbrido por Microondas (MHS) permite ahorros importantes de tiempo y energía. Sin embargo, poco se ha publicado respecto a sus efectos en cerámicas de disilicato de litio, un material bastante popular en odontología en estos días. En este artículo analizamos la micro estructura de cerámicas de disilicato de litio sinterizada con MHS comparada con el sinterizado convencional. Sinterizamos muestras de cerámicas de disilicato de litio usando MHS y hornos convencionales, y analizamos las muestras usando difracción de rayos X y SEM. Las muestras sintetizadas usando MHS tienen una mayor fase cristalina, con mayor número de cristales. Estos cristales tienen además perímetros mayores, comparados con las muestras sinterizadas en hornos convencionales. MHS produce patrones de cristalización y proporción de cristal/matrix diferentes a las producidos por sinterizado convencional. Esto puede asociarse a las mejoras en propiedades mecánicas reportadas previamente.

Low-cost gas sensors produced by the graphite line-patterning technique applied to monitoring banana ripeness.

A low-cost sensor array system for banana ripeness monitoring is presented. The sensors are constructed by employing a graphite line-patterning technique (LPT) to print interdigitated graphite electrodes on tracing paper and then coating the printed area with a thin film of polyaniline (PANI) by in-situ polymerization as the gas-sensitive layer. The PANI layers were used for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including ethylene, emitted during ripening. The influence of the various acid dopants, hydrochloric acid (HCl), methanesulfonic acid (MSA), p-toluenesulfonic acid (TSA) and camphorsulfonic acid (CSA), on the electrical properties of the thin film of PANI adsorbed on the electrodes was also studied. The extent of doping of the films was investigated by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and tests showed that the type of dopant plays an important role in the performance of these low-cost sensors. The array of three sensors, without the PANI-HCl sensor, was able to produce a distinct pattern of signals, taken as a signature (fingerprint) that can be used to characterize bananas ripeness.