Search Results (46)

Photocuring, including photopolymerization and photocrosslinking, has emerged as a transformative manufacturing paradigm that enables the precise, rapid, and customizable fabrication of advanced battery components. This review first introduces the principles of photocuring and vat photopolymerization and their unique advantages of high process efficiency, non-contact fabrication, ambient-temperature processing, and robust interlayer bonding. It then systematically summarizes photocured battery components, involving electrolytes, membranes, anodes, and cathodes, highlighting their design strategies. This review examines the impact of photocured materials on the battery’s properties, such as its conductivity, lithium-ion transference number, and mechanical strength, while examining how vat-photopolymerization-derived 3D architectures optimize ion transport and electrode–electrolyte integration. Finally, it discusses current challenges and future directions for photocuring-based battery manufacturing, emphasizing the need for specialized energy storage resins and scalable processes to bridge lab-scale innovations with industrial applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is a rare hereditary disorder affecting ectoderm-derived tissues including teeth, hair, and sweat glands. The dental abnormalities associated with HED, such as oligodontia and conical teeth, often result in significant functional, esthetic, and psychosocial challenges, particularly during childhood. Methods: A 10-year-old child presented with psychosocial concerns related to missing and malformed teeth. Clinical examination revealed oligodontia, conical anterior teeth, and a resorbed mandibular ridge. Based on clinical findings and a positive family history, a diagnosis of HED with significant dental involvement was confirmed. Results: A conservative prosthodontic approach was selected. A maxillary overdenture was fabricated over the retained primary teeth to enhance retention and preserve the alveolar bone, and a resin-bonded bridge was placed in the mandible due to poor ridge anatomy. The treatment restored oral function and esthetics and improved the child’s self-esteem. A recall visit after three months confirmed good prosthesis adaptation and a positive response from the patient and parents. Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of early, conservative, and developmentally appropriate prosthetic rehabilitation in pediatric patients with HED. Interim prostheses can significantly improve oral function, appearance, and psychosocial well-being while preserving future treatment options as the child matures. Full article

Three-dimensional (3D) printing represents a pivotal technological advancement in dental prosthetics, fundamentally transforming the fabrication of provisional crowns and bridges through innovative vat photopolymerization methodologies, specifically stereolithography (SLA) and digital light processing (DLP). This comprehensive scholarly review critically examines the technological landscape of 3D-printed resin-based dental provisional crowns and bridges, systematically analyzing their material performance, clinical applications, and prospective developmental trajectories. Empirical investigations demonstrate that these advanced restorations exhibit remarkable mechanical characteristics, including flexural strength ranging from 60 to 90 MPa and fracture resistance of 1000–1200 N, consistently matching or surpassing traditional manufacturing techniques. The digital workflow introduces substantial procedural innovations, dramatically reducing fabrication time while simultaneously achieving superior marginal adaptation and internal architectural precision. Despite these significant technological advancements, critical challenges persist, encompassing material durability limitations, interlayer bonding strength inconsistencies, and the current paucity of longitudinal clinical evidence. Contemporary research initiatives are strategically focused on optimizing resin formulations through strategic filler incorporation, enhancing post-processing protocols, and addressing fundamental limitations in color stability and water sorption characteristics. Ultimately, this scholarly review aims to provide comprehensive insights that will inform evidence-based clinical practices and delineate future research trajectories in the dynamically evolving domain of digital dentistry, with the paramount objective of advancing patient outcomes through technological innovation and precision-driven methodological approaches. Full article

The bonding performance of epoxy resin adhesives plays a critical role in ensuring interlayer adhesion and long-term durability in steel bridge deck pavements. However, the construction environment temperature and curing time significantly influence the bonding properties of epoxy resin adhesives. To address this issue, systematic evaluations of the bonding performance and tack-free time of epoxy resin adhesives were conducted. The results demonstrate that under identical curing durations, the tensile bond strength between the epoxy resin bonding layer and steel plate increases with higher curing temperatures. Similarly, at constant curing temperatures, extended curing times lead to improved tensile strength. Both higher temperatures and longer curing durations reduce the tack-free time of the epoxy resin adhesive. Under natural outdoor curing conditions, the epoxy resin adhesive achieves design requirements for both tensile strength and tack-free time after 48 h of curing, ensuring optimal interlayer bonding and workability. Conversely, prolonged curing beyond 72 h results in significantly reduced bonding strength while maintaining acceptable tack-free time. For ambient temperature conditions, the optimal curing duration for epoxy resin adhesive is determined to be 48~72 h, balancing both bonding performance and construction requirements (preventing adhesion to construction equipment). This research offers technical guidance for the field construction of epoxy pavement on steel bridge decks by establishing optimal curing protocols for epoxy resin adhesives to ensure reliable bonding performance and construction workability. Full article

Background: Resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses (RBFDPs) have become an increasingly popular minimally invasive solution for replacing missing anterior teeth. However, their long-term success is influenced by factors such as bridge design and material selection. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of different bridge designs on the clinical performance and failure risks of anterior ceramic RBFDPs. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted to identify clinical studies published in English up to January 2025. Nine studies, including randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and clinical trials, met the inclusion criteria. Results: The analysis revealed that single-retainer RBFDPs demonstrated lower failure rates than two-retainer models (RR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.17–0.75). Among failure types, fractures were significantly less common in cantilever designs compared to two-retainer designs (RR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.09–0.73), while no significant differences were observed in debonding rates (OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.015–1.10). Conclusions: In terms of material selection, all-ceramic RBFDPs in cantilever designs exhibited significantly lower failure rates (RR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03–0.43), whereas metal-ceramic RBFDPs showed no significant difference in failure rates based on bridge design (RR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.21–1.53). These findings suggest that all-ceramic cantilever RBFDPs may offer superior long-term outcomes, highlighting the importance of precise preparation and cementation protocols for clinical success. Full article

Ships and offshore equipment operating in marine environments often face issues such as seawater corrosion and biofouling, leading to significant economic losses. To address the corrosion problems of ships and offshore equipment, heavy-duty anticorrosive coatings are widely used for corrosion protection in marine environments due to their long-term effectiveness, cost-efficiency, and excellent applicability. In this study, silane coupling agent (KH-560) was employed to modify sodium silicate, and the modified sodium silicate was then incorporated as a reinforcing phase into polyurethane to ultimately prepare a modified sodium silicate/polyurethane coating. The feasibility of the modified sodium silicate/polyurethane coating was investigated by characterizing its conventional physicochemical properties, weather resistance, acid and alkali resistance, and salt spray corrosion resistance. Experimental results indicate that the silane coupling agent acts as a bridge between the organic and inorganic interfaces through the hydrolysis and condensation reactions of its bifunctional groups, forming an interfacial layer connected by hydrogen bonds and covalent bonds, thereby improving the compatibility between the organic resin and inorganic sodium silicate. Comprehensive performance analysis revealed that when the content of modified sodium silicate was 60 wt%, the coating hardness reached 4H. Additionally, electrochemical tests demonstrated that the coating exhibited higher impedance (9.62 × 10⁴ Ω/cm²) and lower corrosion current density (5.82 × 10⁻⁷ A/cm²). This study provides a theoretical and experimental basis for the development of high-performance anticorrosive coatings for marine applications. Full article

Flexible pipe end fittings (EFs) transfer axial loads by embedding tensile armor within epoxy matrices. The integrity of bonding between the armor and resin profoundly influences the EF load-bearing capacity. This study investigated the debonding failure mechanism at the epoxy-resin–tensile-armor interface in flexible pipe end fittings through integrated experimental and numerical approaches. Combining tensile tests with digital image correlation (DIC) and cohesive zone modeling (CZM), the research quantified the impacts of interfacial defects and adhesive properties on structural integrity. Specimens with varying bond lengths (40–60 mm) and defect diameters (0–4 mm) revealed that defects significantly reduced load-bearing capacity, with larger defects exacerbating strain localization and accelerating failure. A dimensionless parameter, the defect-size-to-bond-length ratio ($\lambda =D/2L$), was proposed to unify defect impact analysis, demonstrating its nonlinear relationship with failure load reduction. High-toughness adhesives, such as Sikaforce^® 7752, mitigated defect sensitivity by redistributing stress concentrations, outperforming brittle alternatives like Araldite^® AV138. DIC captured real-time strain evolution and crack propagation, validating strain concentrations up to 3.2 at defect edges, while CZM simulations achieved high accuracy (errors: 3.0–7.2%) in predicting failure loads. Critical thresholds for λ (λ < 0.025 for negligible impact; λ > 0.05 requiring defect control or high-toughness adhesives) were established, providing actionable guidelines for manufacturing optimization and adhesive selection. By bridging experimental dynamics with predictive modeling, this work advances the design of robust deepwater energy infrastructure through defect management and material innovation, offering practical strategies to enhance structural reliability in critical applications. Full article

Ultra-high-performance concrete is widely used in bridge strengthening to improve mechanical performance and bridge durability. Interfacial bonding performance is a key factor in ensuring the effectiveness of ultra-high-performance concrete strengthening. The bending test of the UHPC–NC composite structure was carried out in this article. The effects of groove treatment type and epoxy resin bonding were considered to discuss the damage modes, load–deflection relationships, and strengths. The interfacial tensile strength of the UHPC–NC composite structure and the distribution pattern of cracks were clarified. The results of the test showed that (a) only 22.2% of the groove-treated specimens failed due to bonding surface failure, indicating that the UHPC–NC bonding surface has a high degree of reliability; (b) the strength of specimens with an epoxy adhesive interface was the lowest. It was only 21% higher than the pure normal concrete specimen, and the effective synergistic force of UHPC–NC cannot be achieved; (c) the specimens treated with a positive trapezoidal keyway exhibited the highest strength, with an increase of approximately 200% compared to the pure normal concrete specimens. The strength of bending specimens with right-angled and inverted trapezoidal grooves increased by approximately 100% compared with pure normal concrete specimens. Based on the established three-dimensional numerical model and the analysis of test results under economic and safe conditions, the positive trapezoidal keyway specimen exhibits superior interfacial bonding–tensile performances. Full article

Carbon fiber (CF)-reinforced polyimide (PI) resin matrix composites have great application potential in areas such as rail transport, medical devices, and aerospace due to their excellent thermal stability, dielectric properties, solvent resistance, and mechanical properties. However, the epoxy sizing agent used for traditional carbon fiber cannot withstand the processing temperature of polyimide resin, of up to 350 °C, resulting in the formation of pores or defects at the interface between the fiber and the resin matrix, leading to the degradation of the overall composite properties. To overcome this problem, in this study, a low-molecular-weight thermosetting polyimide sizing agent was prepared and the processability of the sized carbon fiber was optimized by a thermoplastic polyimide. Compared with the unsized carbon fiber polyimide composites, the interfacial properties of the composites after the polyimide sizing treatment were significantly improved, with the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) increasing from 82.08 MPa to 136.27 MPa, the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) increasing from 103.7 to 124.9 MPa, and the bending strength increasing from 2262.2 MPa to 2562.1 MPa. The sizing agent acts as a bridge between the carbon fiber and polyimide resin, with anchorage and bonding at the interface between the fiber and resin, which are beneficial for enhancing the interface performance of composites. Full article

Fullerene C₆₀ is by far the most studied of all allotropic modifications of carbon. Chemical modification of the double bond over the years has led to the emergence of a variety of fullerene derivatives. These derivatives have now found numerous applications in medicine, materials and supramolecular chemistry, and as efficient electron acceptors in organic photovoltaic devices. The main method for the functionalization of C₆₀ fullerenes, which makes it possible to obtain its derivatives in a preparative volume, is the Bingel–Hirsch reaction. But this method makes it possible to obtain fullerocyclopropanes containing only carboxyl substituents at the bridging carbon atom. Therefore, in order to obtain new materials, we began to study the interaction with organic carbonates in combination with Grignard reagents in the presence of Ti-containing complex catalysts. We hope that replacing the olefin in the Kulinkovich reaction with a C₆₀ fullerene molecule will lead to new and hard-to-find functionalization products of the latter. Organic carbonates were chosen as the object of study due to the fact that they are used in the industry as solvents for natural and synthetic resins, cellulose ethers, dispersants, blowing agents, emulsifiers, absorbents of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, starting materials for the industrial synthesis of fibers and plastics, as well as plasticizers, pharmaceuticals and plant protection products. Full article

This article explores the important, and yet often overlooked, solid-state structures of selected bioaromatic compounds commonly found in lignin hydrogenolysis oil, a renewable bio-oil that holds great promise to substitute fossil-based aromatic molecules in a wide range of chemical and material industrial applications. At first, single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) was applied to the lignin model compounds, dihydroconiferyl alcohol, propyl guaiacol, and eugenol dimers, in order to elucidate the fundamental molecular interactions present in such small lignin-derived polyols. Then, considering the potential use of these lignin-derived molecules as building blocks for polymer applications, structural analysis was also performed for two chemically modified model compounds, i.e., the methylene-bridging propyl-guaiacol dimer and propyl guaiacol and eugenol glycidyl ethers, which can be used as precursors in phenolic and epoxy resins, respectively, thus providing additional information on how the molecular packing is altered following chemical modifications. In addition to the expected H-bonding interactions, other interactions such as π–π stacking and C–H∙∙∙π were observed. This resulted in unexpected trends in the tendencies towards the crystallization of lignin compounds. This was further explored with the aid of DSC analysis and CLP intermolecular energy calculations, where the relationship between the major interactions observed in all the SCXRD solid-state structures and their physico-chemical properties were evaluated alongside other non-crystallizable lignin model compounds. Beyond lignin model compounds, our findings could also provide important insights into the solid-state structure and the molecular organization of more complex lignin fragments, paving the way to the more efficient design of lignin-based materials with improved properties for industrial applications or improving downstream processing of lignin oils in biorefining processes, such as in enhancing the separation and isolation of specific bioaromatic compounds). Full article

Background: As the functional and aesthetical importance of the canine cannot be overstated, the management of a missing canine is challenging. This case report describes the treatment of an infra-occluded ankylosed maxillary canine in a patient with previously failed orthodontic treatment. Case description: A 20-year-old patient sought a second opinion for orthodontic treatment failure. The patient presented with an impacted, ankylosed, and severely infra-occluded right maxillary canine, as well as an iatrogenic clockwise cant of the maxillary occlusal plane and several root resorptions. The treatment corrected the cant of the occlusal plane while avoiding further root resorption, partially extracted the upper right canine, improved the quality and quantity of the soft tissue in the newly edentulous area, and provided a prosthetic rehabilitation using a lithium disilicate ceramic resin-bonded cantilever bridge. Conclusions: The use of a cantilevered bridge resulted in an aesthetically pleasing and minimally invasive rehabilitation. This technique is reversible, does not affect pulp vitality, and is a viable solution for rehabilitating the smiles of young patients. Clinical significance: The smile rehabilitation for an ankylosed maxillary canine, especially in the case of a previously failed orthodontic treatment, is an important clinical challenge. A minimally invasive long-term restoration with a cantilever bridge is a viable solution. Functional and aesthetically pleasant results can be achieved with a multidisciplinary approach. Full article

The external bonding (EB) of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) is a usual flexural reinforcement method. When using the technique, premature debonding failure still remains a factor of concern. The effect of incorporating multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in epoxy resin on the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) sheets was investigated through four-point bending beam tests. Experimental results indicated that the flexural behavior was significantly improved by the MWCNT-modified epoxy. The BFRP sheets bonded by the MWCNT-modified epoxy more effectively mitigated the debonding failure of BFRP sheets and constrained crack development as well as enhanced the ductility and flexural stiffness of strengthened beams. When the beam was reinforced with two-layer BFRP sheets, the yielding load, ultimate load, ultimate deflection, post-yielded flexural stiffness, energy absorption capacity and deflection ductility of beams strengthened using MWCNT-modified epoxy increased by 7.4%, 8.3%, 18.2%, 22.6%, 29.1% and 14.3%, respectively, in comparison to the beam strengthened using pure epoxy. It could be seen in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images that the MWCNTs could penetrate into concrete and their pull-out and crack bridging consumed more energy, which remarkably enhanced the flexural behavior of the strengthened beams. Finally, an analytical model was proposed for calculating characteristic loads and characteristic deflections of RC beams strengthened with FRP sheets, which indicated a reasonably good correlation with the experimental results. Full article

Carbon-fiber-reinforced polyimide (PI) resin composites have gained significant attention in the field of continuous-fiber-reinforced polymers, in which the interfacial bonding between carbon fiber and matrix resin has been an important research direction. This study designed and prepared a water-soluble thermoplastic polyamide acid sizing agent to improve the wettability of carbon fiber, enhance the van der Waals forces between carbon fiber and resin and strengthen the chemical bonding between the sizing agent and the alkyne-capped polyimide resin by introducing alkyne-containing functional groups into the sizing agent. This study found that the addition of a sizing layer effectively bridged the large modulus difference between the fiber and resin regions, resulting in the formation of an interfacial layer approximately 85 nm thick. This layer facilitated the transfer of stress from the matrix to the reinforced carbon fiber, leading to a significant improvement in the interfacial properties of the composites. Adjusting the concentration of the sizing agent showed that composites treated with 3% had the best interfacial properties. The interfacial shear strength increased from 82.08 MPa to 108.62 MPa (32.33%) compared to unsized carbon fiber. This research is significant for developing sizing agents suitable for carbon-fiber-reinforced polyimide composites. Full article

As cementation represents the last stage of the work involved in making various indirect restorations (metal ceramic crowns and bridges, full ceramic crowns and bridges, inlays, onlays, and fiber posts), its quality significantly contributes to the clinical success of the therapy performed. In the last two decades, the demand for ceramic indirect restorations in everyday dental practice has considerably increased primarily due to the growing significance of esthetics among patients, but also as a result of hypersensitivity reactions to dental alloys in some individuals. In this context, it is essential to ensure a permanent and reliable adhesive bond between the indirect restoration and the tooth structure, as this is the key to the success of aesthetic restorations. Resin-based luting materials benefit from excellent optical (aesthetic) and mechanical properties, as well as from providing a strong and durable adhesive bond between the restoration and the tooth. For this reason, resin cements are a reliable choice of material for cementing polycrystalline ceramic restorations. The current dental material market offers a wide range of resin cement with diverse and continually advancing properties. In response, we wish to note that the interest in the properties of resin-based cements among clinicians has existed for many years. Yet, despite extensive research on the subject and the resulting continued improvements in the quality of these materials, there is still no ideal resin-based cement on the market. The manuscript authors were guided by this fact when writing the article content, as the aim was to provide a concise overview of the composition, properties, and current trends, as well as some future guidelines for research in this field that would be beneficial for dental practitioners as well as the scientific community. It is extremely important to provide reliable and succinct information and guidelines for resin luting materials for dental dental practitioners. Full article