A Comparative Evaluation of Effects of Different Kinds of Sterilizations On Load Deflection Characteristics, Tensile Properties of Copper NITI Wire- AN Invitro Study.

Copper NiTi wires were introduced by Sachdeva R and Miyasaki S in 1994. This latest innovation in the evolutionary scale gives us the opportunity of choosing the force level by choosing the temperature at which the wires will deliver its optimum force level. With so many advantages and their ability to return to their original form coupled with the high cost of copper NiTi many clinicians started reusing the wire. This raises concern about disinfecting/sterilizing the wire before using in another patient for prevention of cross infection. Hence, various sterilization procedures like cold sterilization using 2% acidic glutaraldehyde, dry heat sterilization and autoclaving were used to prevent this cross infection..Aim: The main aim of this study is used to evaluate the effects of different kinds of sterilization on load characteristics and tensile properties of copper Ni Ti wire. Materials and Methods: In the present study, selected mechanical properties like load deflection characteristics, ultimate tensile strength of the 0.016 copper NiTi wires were studied before and after sterilization procedure. Three point bending test was performed to evaluate the load deflection characteristics and tensile test were evaluated to determine other mechanical properties. Pretreatment and post treatment values were statistically analyzed by one way ANOVA test. Results: On the load deflection characteristics, even though there was an increase in the loading and unloading forces, statistically significant changes in the forces are seen only when the wires were subjected to two cycles of sterilization with autoclave and dry heat. No detrimental changes were detected in tensile properties of copper NiTi were after single cycle of sterilization with any of the stated sterilants. Very minimal non significant changes occurred during the second cycle of sterilization procedure. Conclusion: Pronounced changes in load deflection characteristics have been found in the wires which have undergone two cycles of sterilization with either dry heat or autoclave implying that there was loss in pseudoplastic and pseudoelastic properties of wires and increase in stiffness of wires.

Tensile properties of orthodontic elastomeric ligatures.

Context: Tensile properties of elastomeric ligatures become important when efficiency of orthodontic appliances is considered. Aims: The aim of this study was to compare tensile strength, extension to tensile strength, toughness and modulus of elasticity of elastomeric ligatures in both the as-received condition and after 28 days of immersion in the simulated oral environment. Furthermore, the changes that occurred in tensile properties of each brand of ligatures after 28 days were evaluated. Setting and Design : Experimental-laboratory based. Materials and Methods: Elastomeric ligatures were obtained from different companies and their tensile properties were measured using Zwick testing machine in both the as-received condition and after 28 days of immersion in the simulated oral environment. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were analyzed using independent sample t-tests, analysis of variance and Tukey tests. Results: After 28 days, all the ligatures experienced a significant decrease in tensile strength, extension to tensile strength and toughness ( P < 0.05), whereas modulus of elasticity increased in some groups and decreased in others. There were significant differences in tensile properties of different brands of ligatures in both conditions ( P < 0.05), with the exception of modulus of elasticity after 28 days. Conclusions : The decrease in strength properties of elastomeric ligatures shows that they should be replaced at each appointment to reduce the risk of rupture. There are significant differences in tensile properties of different brands of ligatures, which should be considered during selection of these products.

Effects of recycling on the mechanical properties and the surface topography of Nickel-Titanium alloy wires / 대한치과교정학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of mechanical properties, surface topography and frictional force of various nickel titanium wires after recycling. Three types of nickel-titanium wires and one type of stainless steel wire were divided to three groups: as-received condition(TO:control group), treated in artificial saliva for four weeks(T1) and autoclaved after being treated in artificial saliva(T2). Some changes were observed for the selected mechanical properties in tensile test, surface topography by means of SEM and 3D profilogram, and frictional coefficient, The findings suggest that 1. Nickel-titanium wires demonstrated no statistically significant differences in maximum tensile strength, elongation rate and modulus of elasticity, but stainless steel wire demonstrated statistically significant differences in maximum tensile strength, elongation rate and modulus of elasticity between the groups(p<0.05). 2. NiTi, Optimalloy, Stainless Steel wires demonstrated increased pitting and corrosion in SEM finding. 3. Recycled NiTi, Optimalloy and stainless steel wires demonstrated significantly greater surface roughness(Ra and Rq) through 3D profilogram when compared with the control wires(p<0.05), but Sentalloy didn't demonstrate significant difference. 4. Recycled NiTi, Optimalloy and stainless steel wires demonstrated significantly greater maximum frictional coefficient when compared with the control wires(P<0.05), but Sentalloy didn't demonstrate significant difference. The changes of surface roughness and frictional coefficient in NiTi and Optimalloy had no clinical implication. Consequently recycled nickel- titanium wires demonstrated no clinical problem in tensile properties, surface topography and frictional coefficient.

The tensile properties and mode of fracture of elastoidin.

The tensile properties and mode of fracture of elastoidin, a collagenous protein fibre from the fins of sharks, were compared with those of rat tail tendon fibres, considered to be a pure form of collagen. Elastoidin fibres were stronger than tendon in the dry state whereas the opposite was observed for fibres tested in the wet state. However, elastoidin was stiffer than tendon whether dry or wet. Scanning electron micrographs of the cross sections and fractured surfaces revealed that elastoidin fibres consisted of fibrils of varying diameter arranged in a lamellar fashion. From the nature of the fractured surfaces, it could be deduced that the primary failure mechanism for elastoidin was probably through a fissuring of the structure.