Secondary caries is one of the important issues related to using dental composite restorations. Effective prevention of cariogenic bacteria survival may reduce this problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity and physical properties of composite materials with silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate (SSHZP). The antibacterial filler was introduced at concentrations of 1%, 4%, 7%, 10%, 13%, and 16% (w/w) into model composite material consisting of methacrylate monomers and silanized glass and silica fillers. The in vitro reduction in the number of viable cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans ATCC 33535 colonies, Vickers microhardness, compressive strength, diametral tensile strength, flexural strength, flexural modulus, sorption, solubility, degree of conversion, and color stability were investigated. An increase in antimicrobial filler concentration resulted in a statistically significant reduction in bacteria. There were no statistically significant differences caused by the introduction of the filler in compressive strength, diametral tensile strength, flexural modulus, and solubility. Statistically significant changes in degree of conversion, flexural strength, hardness (decrease), solubility (increase), and in color were registered. A favorable combination of antibacterial properties and other properties was achieved at SSHZP concentrations from 4% to 13%. These composites exhibited properties similar to the control material and enhanced in vitro antimicrobial efficiency.

In present work the Cr₃C₂–NiCr coating was deposited on magnesium alloy substrate with high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) spraying. The microstructure of the samples has been characterized by means of electron microscopy, SEM and phase composition analysis carried out. The porosity of coatings has been also estimated. Finally, tests of selected mechanical properties, such as instrumented indentation, abrasive erosion have been performed. The results of the investigations confirmed that dense, homogeneous and well-adhered Cr₃C₂–NiCr cermet coating is possible to obtain onto the magnesium AZ31 alloy substrate. Moreover, the coatings exhibit high resistance to erosion.

Colonization of polymeric dental prosthetic materials by yeast-like fungi and the association of these microorganisms with complications occurring during prosthetic treatment are important clinical problems. In previously presented research, submicron inorganic particles of silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate (S–P) were introduced into poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) denture base material which allowed for obtaining the antimicrobial effect during a 90 day experiment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the flexural strength, impact strength, hardness, wear resistance, sorption, and solubility during three months of storage in distilled water. With increasing S–P concentration after 2 days of conditioning in distilled water, reduced values of flexural strength (107–72 MPa), impact strength (18.4–5.5 MPa) as well as enhanced solubility (0.95–1.49 µg/mm³) were registered, but they were at acceptable levels, and the sorption was stable. Favorable changes included increased hardness (198–238 MPa), flexural modulus (2.9–3.3 GPa), and decreased volume loss during wear test (2.9–0.2 mm³). The percentage changes of the analyzed properties during the 90 days of storage in distilled water were similar for all materials.

Zinc oxide layers on soda-lime glass substrates were fabricated using the sol-gel method and the dip-coating technique. Zinc acetate dihydrate was applied as the precursor, while diethanolamine as the stabilizing agent. This study aimed to determine what effect has the duration of the sol aging process on the properties of fabricated ZnO films. Investigations were carried out with the sol that was aged during the period from 2 to 64 days. The sol was studied using the dynamic light scattering method to determine its distribution of molecule size. The properties of ZnO layers were studied using the following methods: scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, transmission and reflection spectroscopy in the UV-Vis range, and the goniometric method for determination of the water contact angle. Furthermore, photocatalytic properties of ZnO layers were studied by the observation and quantification of the methylene blue dye degradation in an aqueous solution under UV illumination. Our studies showed that ZnO layers have grain structure, and their physical–chemical properties depend on the duration of aging. The strongest photocatalytic activity was observed for layers produced from the sol that was aged over 30 days. These layers have also the greatest porosity (37.1%) and the largest water contact angle (68.53°). Our studies have also shown that there are two absorption bands in studied ZnO layers, and values of optical energy band gaps determined from positions of maxima in reflectance characteristics are equal to those determined using the Tauc method. Optical energy band gaps of the ZnO layer fabricated from the sol aged over 30 days are E_g^I = 4.485 eV and E_g^II = 3.300 eV for the first and second bands, respectively. This layer also showed the highest photocatalytic activity, causing the pollution to degrade 79.5% after 120 min of UV irradiation. We believe that ZnO layers presented here, thanks to their attractive photocatalytic properties, may find application in environmental protection for the degradation of organic pollutants.

This research aims to characterize and examine the microstructure and mechanical properties of the newly developed M789 steel, applied in additive manufacturing. The data presented herein will bring about a broader understanding of the processing–microstructure–property–performance relationships in this material based on its chemical composition and heat treatment. Samples were printed using the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process and then the solution was annealed at 1000 °C for 1 h, followed by aging at 500 °C for soaking times of 3, 6 and 9 h. The AM components showed a relative density of 99.1%, which arose from processing with the following parameters: laser power of 200 W, laser speed of 340 mm/s, and hatch distance of 120 µm. Optical and electron microscopy observations revealed microstructural defects, typical for LPBF processes, like voids appearing between the melted pools of different sizes with round or creviced geometries, nonmelted powder particle formation inside such cavities, and small spherical porosity that was preferentially located between the molten pools. In addition, in heat-treated conditions, AM maraging steel has combined oxide inclusions of Ti and Al (TiO₂:Al₂O₃) that reside along the grain boundaries and secondary porosities; these may act as preferential zones for crack initiation and may increase the brittleness of the AM steel under aged conditions. Consequently, the elongation of the AM alloy was low (<3%) for both annealed and aged solution conditions. The tensile strength of AM M789 increased from 968 MPa (solution annealed) to 1500–1600 MPa after the aging process due to precipitation within the intermetallic η-phase. A tensile strength and yield point of 1607 ± 26 and 1617 ± 45 MPa were obtained, respectively, after a full heat treatment at 500 °C/6 h. The results show that 3 h aging of solution annealed AM M789 steel achieves satisfactory material properties in industrial practice. Extending the aging time of printed parts to 6 h yields slightly improved properties but may not be worth the effort, while long-term aging (9 h) was shown to even reduce quality.

The colonization of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) denture base materials by pathogenic microorganisms is a major problem associated with the use of prostheses, and the incorporation of antimicrobial fillers is a method of improving the antimicrobial properties of these materials. Numerous studies have demonstrated the initial in vitro antimicrobial effectiveness of this type of material; however, reports demonstrating the stability of these fillers over longer periods are not available. In this study, silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate was introduced into the powder component of a PMMA denture base material at concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 4%, and 8% (w/w). The survival rates of the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli and yeast-type fungus Candida albicans were established after fungal or bacterial suspensions were incubated with samples that had been previously stored in distilled water. Storage over a three-month period led to the progressive reduction of the initial antimicrobial properties. The results of this study suggest that additional microbiological tests should be conducted for materials that are treated with antimicrobial fillers and intended for long-term use. Future long-term studies of the migration of silver ions from the polymer matrix and the influence of different media on this ion emission are required.