In this study, AISI 1020 steel surface was coated in different heat inputs with (wt.-%) 50FeCrC-20FeW-30FeB powder mixture by using plasma transferred arc (PTA) welding method. The microstructure of the coated samples were investigated by using optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDS). The hardness was measured with m...

INTRODUCTION Erection hardness is a fundamental component of erectile function, and is a very specific and easily monitored outcome. The Erection Hardness Score (EHS) is a single-item, patient-reported outcome (PRO) for scoring erection hardness. AIMS The aim of this article is to report the psychometric validation of the EHS. METHODS The dataset (N = 307) was from a multinational sildenafi...

The regulation by muscle spindles of jaw-closing muscle activity during mastication was evaluated in anesthetized rabbits. Simultaneous records were made of the discharges of muscle spindle units in the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus, masseter and digastric muscle activity (electromyogram [EMG]), and jaw-movement parameters during cortically induced rhythmic jaw movements. One of three test s...

The aim of this study was to assess the Knoop hardness of three high viscous glass ionomer cements: G1 - Ketac Molar; G2 - Ketac Molar Easymix (3M ESPE) and G3 - Magic Glass ART (Vigodent). As a parallel goal, three different methods for insertion of Ketac Molar Easymix were tested: G4 - conventional spatula; G5 - commercial syringe (Centrix) and G6 - low-cost syringe. Ten specimens of each gro...

AIM The aim of the study was to correlate the pH and fluoride ion uptake with surface hardness of composite resin based restorative materials after topical fluoride application. METHODOLOGY Forty disks of each of test materials Composite (Filtek Z350XT, 3M ESPE, St Paul, MN, USA), Resin modified glass ionomer (Vitremer) and Compomer (Dyract AP) were made and ten disks of each material were pl...

 The Vickers hardness test can cover an extensive range of test loads from several gram-force (gf) to 100 kilogram-force (kgf) with a single hardness scale. It is one of the most reliable strength tests because the simplicity of the testing theory and the indenter shape minimizes variances among hardness values obtained. The most vulnerable aspect of the Vickers method is an error when measuri...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of disinfectants and distilled water on the micro-hardness of heat cure acrylic resins. METHODS The case-control study was conducted at Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences, and Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, from April to October 2011. Specimens were fabricate...

Aluminium matrix composites with alumina reinforcements give superior mechanical & physical properties. Their applications in several fields like automobile, aerospace, defense, sports, electronics, bio-medical and other industrial purposes are becoming essential for the last several decades. In the present work, fabrication of hybrid composite was done by Stir casting technique using Al 6061 a...

This study evaluated, using Knoop hardness test, the polymerization depth of Rely-X dual-cured resin cement activated by chemical reaction alone (control group) or by chemical/physical mode with light curing through a 1.5-mm-thick ceramic layer (HeraCeram). Bovine incisors had their buccal surface flattened and hybridized. On this surface, a rubber mould (5 mm diameter; 1 mm high) was bulk fill...

PURPOSE The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the mechanical properties (bending strength and hardness) of seven different fiber reinforced composite posts, in relation to their microstructural characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two hundred eighty posts were divided into seven groups of 40, one group for each type of post analyzed. Within each group, 15 posts were subjected to th...