This paper focuses on the analysis of the thermal properties of prototype insulation structures produced using SLS and SLA additive technologies. There is a noticeable lack of analysis in the scientific literature regarding the geometry of 3D-printed structures in terms of their thermal properties. The aim of this paper was to analyze printed samples of prototype thermal insulation composite structures and their potential for use in building applications. The research material consisted of closed and open cell foams of varying structural complexity. Increasing the complexity of the composite core structure resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the value of the thermal conductivity coefficient λ and the heat transfer coefficient U, and an increase in the thermal resistance Rc. The experimental results showed that the geometric structure of the air voids in the material is a key factor in regulating heat transfer. The control of porosity in materials produced by additive technology can be an effective tool for designing structures with high insulation efficiency. The best performance of the prototype materials produced by the SLS method was a three-layer cellular composite with a gyroid core structure. It was also shown that the four-layer gyroid structure panels with an outer layer of metallized polyethylene film produced using 3D SLA printing had the best thermal insulation. As a result, the analysis confirmed the possibility of producing energy-efficient insulation materials using 3D printing. These materials can be used successfully in construction and other industries. Further research will significantly improve the quality, accuracy, and speed of printing insulation materials, reduce the negative impact on the natural environment, and develop intelligent adaptive solutions.

Background: it is undesirable for defects to occur in building partitions and units. There is a need to develop and improve research techniques for locating such defects, especially non-destructive techniques for active thermography. The aim of the experiment was to explore the possibility of using active thermography for testing large-sized building units (with high heat capacity) in order to locate material inclusions. Methods: as part of the experiment, two building partition models—one made of gypsum board (GB) and another made of oriented strand board (OSB)—were built. Three material inclusions (styrofoam, granite, and steel), considerably differing in their thermal parameters, were placed in each of the partitions. A 7.2 kW infrared radiator was used for thermally exciting (heating) the investigated element for 30 min. The distribution of the temperature field was studied on both sides of the partition for a few hours. Results: using the proposed investigative method, one can detect defects in building partitions under at least 22 mm of thick cladding. At a later cooling down phase, inverse temperature contrasts were found to occur—the defects, which at the beginning of cooling down were visible as warmer areas, at a later phase of cooling down are perceived as cooler areas, and vice versa (on the same front surface). In the transmission mode, the defects are always visible as areas warmer than defect-free areas. Moreover, a quantitative (defect location depth) analysis with an accuracy of up to 10% was carried out using the Echo Defect Shape method. Conclusions: active thermography can be used in construction for non-destructive materials testing. When the recording of thermograms is conducted for an appropriate length of time, inverse contrasts can be observed (on the same front surface).

Background. In orthodontics, erbium (Er:YAG) lasers can be used for bracket debonding. Objectives. To assess the changes in temperature of pulp and enamel during laser debonding of brackets. Material and methods. A total of 13 brackets (n = 13; 2 metal and 11 ceramic brackets) were bonded to 13 caries-free premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons. Brackets were irradiated with 2 lasers. Laser No. 1 was an erbium-chromium (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser (Waterlase Express; Biolase, Irvine, USA) with a wavelength of 2,780 nm at a power of 2.78-2.85 W, energy of 185-190 mJ, fluence of 10 ns, frequency of 25 Hz, pulse duration of 300 mu s, tip diameter of 0.6 mm, air/fluid cooling of 3.5 mL/s, and time of irradiation of 5-25 s. Laser No. 2 was an Er:YAG laser (LiteTouch; Light Instruments Ltd., Yokneam, Israel) with a wavelength of 2,940 nm at a power of 4 W, energy of 200 mJ, fluence of 10 ns, frequency of 20 Hz, pulse duration of 300 mu s, tip diameter of 0.8 mm, air/fluid cooling of 3.5 mL/s, and time of irradiation of 5-15 s. Two thermographic cameras (FLIR Zenmuse XT and FLIR P65; FLIR Systems, Wilsonville, USA) and type K thermocouple (Zhang-zhou Weihua Electronic Co., Fujian, China) were used for precise temperature measurement on the surface of the teeth and inside them. Results. When laser No. 1 was in use, the mean difference between the inner and outer temperature of the examined teeth (1.4 degrees C) was higher than when the laser No. 2 was in use (0.6 degrees C) (p = 0.0974). The study found that the temperature inside the tooth did not increase, and it even decreased during treatment with Er:YAG laser using water cooling, provided that appropriate proportion of water and air was used. For laser No. 1, confidence interval (CI) was between 0.7 and 2.2 and for laser No. 2 it was between 0.500 and 1.23. Only experiment for ceramic brackets was described. Conclusions. These findings confirm that the use of Er:YAG family lasers for orthodontic bracket debonding in an in vitro study is safe and effective.

This paper concerns research into the use of 3D-printed gyroid structures as a modern thermal insulation material in construction. The study focuses on the analysis of open-cell gyroid structures and their effectiveness in insulating external building envelopes. Gyroid composite samples produced using DLP 3D-printing technology were tested to determine key parameters such as thermal conductivity (λ), thermal resistance (R) and heat transfer coefficient (U) according to ISO 9869-1:2014. In addition, the authors carried out a comprehensive analysis of the annual energy balance of four different residential buildings, including older and modern structures, using Arcadia software v9.0. The results showed that 100 mm-thick multi-layer gyroid structures achieve exceptionally low thermal conductivity (approximately 0.023 W/(m·K)), significantly outperforming traditional materials such as mineral wool or polystyrene foam in terms of insulation efficiency. These structures also have high mechanical strength and low density, making them both lightweight and highly durable. As a result of these properties, the structures studied represent a promising solution for designing energy-efficient buildings, effectively reducing heating energy demand and improv the overall energy balance of buildings.

In response to the growing number of forcibly displaced persons caused by natural disasters and conflicts, this study investigates the use of paper-based materials in the design and construction of temporary emergency shelters. The research presents an iterative development of five full-scale prototypes of the TECH (Transportable Emergency Cardboard House) project. The study combines material testing, thermal simulations, and prototyping to evaluate the structural, thermal, and environmental performance of mass-produced paper elements—such as corrugated cardboard, honeycomb panels, and paper tubes—applied in various architectural and climatic contexts. Each TECH prototype was assessed for durability, thermal resistance, and assembly feasibility. Findings confirm that paper-based materials can meet the basic requirements of emergency architecture while maintaining low environmental impact, ease of transport, and low production costs. The results support the feasibility of using cellulose-based components as sustainable alternatives to conventional relief shelters. The study concludes with design guidelines for further development of long-lasting, low-impact housing units adaptable to diverse climate zones and emergency scenarios.