In this report, we demonstrated the formation of a biomimetic mineralizing layer obtained on the surface of dental enamel (biotemplate) using bioinspired nanocrystalline carbonate-substituted calcium hydroxyapatite (ncHAp), whose physical and chemical properties are closest to the natural apatite dental matrix, together with a complex of polyfunctional organic and polar amino acids. Using a set of structural, spectroscopy, and advanced microscopy techniques, we confirmed the formation of a nanosized ncHAp-based mineralized layer, as well as studying its chemical, substructural, and morphological features by means of various methods for the pretreatment of dental enamel. The pretreatment of a biotemplate in an alkaline solution of Ca(OH)2 and an amino acid booster, together with the executed subsequent mineralization with ncHAp, led to the formation of a mineralized layer with homogeneous micromorphology and the preferential orientation of the ncHAp nanocrystals. It was shown that the homogeneous crystallization of hydroxyapatite on the biotemplate surface and binding of individual nanocrystals and agglomerates into a single complex by an amino acid booster resulted in an increase (~15%) in the nanohardness value in the enamel rods area, compared to that of healthy natural enamel. Obtaining a similar hierarchy and cleavage characteristics as natural enamel in the mineralized layer, taking into account the micromorphological features of dental tissue, is an urgent problem for future research.
Sn–5 wt% Sb alloy is one of the materials considered for replacing lead‐containing alloys for soldering in electronic packaging. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and specific heat of the sample were studied. Wetting contact angle measurements of the alloy on different substrates were carried out at high temperature. Microhardness tests as a function of temperature were performed to calculate the effective activation energy of the solder alloy Sn–Sb and compared with the pure elements Sn and Sb. Isothermal creep curves for alloy samples were obtained under different constant applied stresses at different working temperatures ranging from 463 K to 503 K, followed by annealing the samples at two different temperatures before and above the threshold value (Tm/2). The transient creep parameters and the values of the stress exponent n were calculated for the two annealing temperatures. Microstructure examinations of the as‐cast alloy at room temperature and after the two annealing treatments with the effect of the cold work deformation and creep test on the structure change and properties of Sn–Sb alloys were reported. The stress rupture test was also measured.
Nanocrystalline thin films of Sb37.07Mn1.95Se60.98 with different thickness (7, 20, 40, and 80 nm) were successfully prepared via inert gas condensation technique. As-deposited films showed amorphous structure by grazing incident in-plane X-ray diffraction (GIIXD) technique. All films of different thicknesses were heat treated at 433 K for 90 min. The GIIXD pattern of annealed films showed nanocrystalline orthorhombic structure. The effect of thickness of annealed films on the structure and optical properties was studied. Calculated particle sizes are 20.67 and 24.15 for 40 and 80 nm thickness of heat treated film. High resolution transmission electron microscope HRTEM images and their diffraction patterns proved that 40 nm film thickness annealed at different temperature has nanocrystalline nature with observed (high) crystallinity that increases with annealing temperature. Blue shift of optical energy gap was observed from 1.68 to 2 eV with decreasing film thickness from 80 to 7 nm. Film thickness of 40 nm was exposed to different heat treated temperatures from 353 to 473 K to detect its effect on structure and optical and electrical properties. Blue shift from 1.73 to 1.9 eV was observed in its optical band gap due to direct transition as heat treatment temperature decreasing from 473 to 353 K. Electrical conductivity was studied for different heat treated films of thickness 40 nm, and intrinsic conduction mechanism is dominant. The activation energy Ea was affected by heat treatment process.
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