O objetivo deste trabalho foi monitorar e obter indicadores sobre a atividade científica desenvolvida no IPEN-CNEN/SP, visível internacionalmente. Utilizou-se como parâmetro os artigos de periódicos registrados na base de dados Web of Science (WoS), nas três últimas décadas. Identificou-se o núcleo de revistas e de autores, o índice de visibilidade, o de colaboração, bem como o crescimento científico. Para análise dos dados, utilizou-se as técnicas bibliométricas e cienciométricas.Pelos resultados obtidos é possível afirmar que o IPEN tem representatividade e visibilidade significativa na WoS.

The main objective of this paper was to monitor and obtain indicators concerning the international visibility of the scientific activities developed in IPEN-CNEN/SP. The articles published along the three decades and registered in the Web of Science (WoS) were used as parameters. It was possible to identify the central journal and author nucleus, index of visibility and collaboration as well as the scientific growth. Scientometric and Bibliometric instruments were used for data analysis. The results obtained confirms a significative IPEN visibility in WoS.

Silicon nitride based ceramics have been widely used as structural ceramics, due mainly to their thermo-mechanical properties such as high density, high thermal shock resistance, corrosion resistance and chemical stability. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of rare earth and aluminum oxide additions as sintering aids on densification, microstructure and mechanical properties of silicon nitride. Silicon nitride mixtures with 91 wt. (%) Si3N4 and 9% wt. (%) additives were prepared and sintered. The density, microstructure and mechanical properties of the sintered specimens of these mixtures were determined. In most specimens, scanning electron microscopic examination and X ray diffraction analysis revealed elongated grains of β-Si3N4 with aspect ratio of about 2.0 and dispersed in a glassy phase. The density of the sintered specimens was higher than 94% of the theoretical density (td) and specimens with La2O3 and Al2O3 additions exhibited the highest value. The results of this investigation indicate that the rare earth ion size influences densification of silicon nitride, but this correlation was not observed in specimens containing two different rare earth oxides. The hardness values varied in direct proportion to the density of the specimens and the fracture toughness values were influenced by the composition of the intergranular glassy phase.

The aim of this study was to qualitatively demonstrate surface micro-morphological changes after the employment of different surface conditioning methods on high-alumina and glassy-matrix dental ceramics. Three disc-shaped high-alumina specimens (In-Ceram Alumina, INC) and 4 glassy-matrix ceramic specimens (Vitadur Alpha, V) (diameter: 5 mm and height: 5 mm) were manufactured. INC specimens were submitted to 3 different surface conditioning methods: INC1 - Polishing with silicon carbide papers (SiC); INC2 - Chairside air-borne particle abrasion (50 µm Al2O3); INC3 - Chairside silica coating (CoJet; 30 µm SiOx). Vitadur Alpha (V) specimens were subjected to 4 different surface conditioning methods: V1 - Polishing with SiC papers; V2 - HF acid etching; V3 - Chairside air-borne particle abrasion (50 µm Al2O3); V4 - Chairside silica coating (30 µm SiOx). Following completion of the surface conditioning methods, the specimens were analyzed using SEM. After polishing with SiC, the surfaces of V specimens remained relatively smooth while those of INC exhibited topographic irregularities. Chairside air-abrasion with either aluminum oxide or silica particles produced retentive patterns on both INC and V specimens, with smoother patterns observed after silica coating. V specimens etched with HF presented a highly porous surface. Chairside tribochemical silica coating resulted in smoother surfaces with particles embedded on the surface even after air-blasting. Surface conditioning using air-borne particle abrasion with either 50 µm alumina or 30 µm silica particles exhibited qualitatively comparable rough surfaces for both INC and V. HF acid gel created the most micro-retentive surface for the glassy-matrix ceramic tested.

Silicon nitride based ceramics are promising candidates for biomedical applications due to their chemical and dimensional stability associated to suitable mechanical strength and relatively high fracture toughness. However, the bioinert characteristics of these ceramics limit their application to situations where the formation of chemical bonds between the material and the tissue are not essential. A way to broaden the application field of these ceramics in medicine is promoting their bioactivity by means of a hydroxyapatite coating. Therefore, in this paper, samples of silicon nitride were coated with apatite using the biomimetic method. The treated silicon nitride surface was characterized by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transformed, X ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that a layer of hydroxyapatite could be deposited by this method on silicon nitride samples surface.

In many 'in-vivo' and 'in-vitro' studies, the behavior of calcium phosphate ceramics like beta - tricalcium phosphate in biological environments has been reported to be predictive and positive. In terms of bone tissue growth, these ceramics are attractive biomaterials due to their porous microstructures. To obtain biomaterial quality ceramics, in this investigationbeta- TCP porous ceramics were prepared by a special consolidation method with albumin as a foam generating agent. This technique enables a variety of formats with complex geometries to be prepared. To obtain porous samples using albumin, heat had to be introduced into the system during the consolidation stage. After consolidation, the samples were sintered at 1250 °C for 30 minutes and characterized using X ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy and mercury porosimetry. The foams that were obtained by this method exhibited spherical and interconnected pores, characteristics desirable in biomedical implants.

O objetivo deste estudo foi testar a hipótese de que o acabamento e o polimento da superfície cerâmica produzem rugosidade superficial semelhante à superfície cerâmica vitrificada. Vinte e cinco corpos-de-prova (5 mm x 2 mm) da cerâmica Vitadur Alpha foram obtidos de acordo com as recomendações do fabricante. Todas os corpos-de-prova foram vitrificados e aleatoriamente divididos em 5 grupos (n=5), de acordo com os seguintes protocolos de acabamento e polimento: G1: vitrificação (controle); G2: abrasão com ponta diamantada; G3: G2 + acabamento com borrachas abrasivas; G4: G3 + polimento com pasta diamantada/disco de feltro; G5: G3 + disco de feltro impregnado com pasta diamantada. Após 6 análises individuais foi obtida 1 média por corpo-de-prova da rugosidade (Ra). A análise qualitativa foi realizada por microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Os valores médios de rugosidade foram submetidos à ANOVA e ao teste de Tukey com nível de significância de 5%. G1 e G4 foram estatisticamente semelhantes (p>0.05). O grupo G2 apresentou o maior valor médio de rugosidade (p<0.05) seguido por G3, G5, G4 e G1 em ordem decrescente. A hipótese foi parcialmente confirmada, pois somente o polimento mecânico do grupo G4 produziu rugosidade superficial semelhante à da superfície vitrificada, embora o acabamento e o polimento sejam procedimentos críticos tecnicamente.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that mechanical polishing methods of ceramic surfaces allow similar superficial roughness to that of glazed surfaces. Twenty-five Vitadur Alpha ceramic discs (5 mm x 2 mm) were prepared according to the manufacturer's specifications. All specimens were glazed and randomly assigned to 5 groups (n=5), according to finishing and polishing protocols: G1: glazed (control); G2: diamond bur finishing; G3: G2 + silicon rubber tip polishing; G4: G3 + felt disc/diamond polishing paste; G5: G3 + felt disc impregnated with fine-particle diamond paste. Next, surface roughness means (Ra - µm) were calculated. Qualitative analysis was made by scanning electron microscopy. Surface roughness data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey's test at 5% significance level. G1 and G4 were statistically similar (p>0.05). G2 presented the highest roughness means (p<0.05) followed by groups G3, G5, G4 and G1 in a decreasing order. The hypothesis was partially confirmed as only the mechanical polishing (G4) produced similar superficial roughness to that of surface glazing, although finishing and polishing are technically critical procedures.

Titanium alloys parts are ideally suited for advanced aerospace systems because of their unique combination of high specific strength at both room temperature and moderately elevated temperature, in addition to excellent corrosion resistance. Despite these features, use of titanium alloys in engines and airframes is limited by cost. The alloys processing by powder metallurgy eases the obtainment of parts with complex geometry. In this work, results of the Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloys production are presented. Samples were produced by mixing of initial metallic powders followed by uniaxial and cold isostatic pressing with subsequent densification by sintering between 900 up to 1500 °C, in vacuum. Sintered samples were characterized for phase composition, microstructure and microhardness by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Vickers indentation, respectively. It was shown that the samples were sintered to high densities and presented homogeneous microstructure from the elements dissolution with low interstitial pick-up.

Silicon carbide is an important structural ceramic and finds applications as abrasives, as a refractory and in automotive engine components. This material can attain high densities during liquid phase sintering if suitable additives are used. Silicon carbides containing silica, alumina and rare earth oxides have suitable characteristics to promote liquid phase sintering. In this paper, the sintering behavior of silicon carbide ceramics with additives based on the (SiO2-RE2O3-Al2O3) system (RE = Y, Dy) has been studied. Samples with different compositions and containing 90 vol.% SiC were sintered in a dilatometer at 1950 °C/1h and in a graphite resistance furnace from 1500 °C/1h up to 1950 °C/1h. The shrinkage behavior as a function of rare earth oxide used and additive composition was also studied. The sintered materials were characterized by density and weight loss measurements. The crystalline phases were identified by X-ray diffraction analysis. The sintering kinetics of these materials can be related to the formation of secondary crystalline phases.

Research in the preparation of ceramics from polymeric precursors is giving rise to increased interest in ceramic technology because it allows the use of several promising polymer forming techniques. In this work ceramic composite pieces were obtained by pyrolysis of a compacted mixture of a polysiloxane resin and alumina/silicon powder. The mixture consists of 60 vol% of the polymer phase and 40 vol% of the filler in a 1:1 ratio for alumina/silicon, which was hot pressed to crosslink the polymer, thus forming a compact body. This green body was trimmed into different geometries and pyrolised in nitrogen atmosphere at temperatures up to 1600 °C. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the formation of phases such as mullite and Si2ON2 during pyrolysis, that result from reactions between fillers, polymer decomposition products and nitrogen atmosphere. The porosity was found to be less than 20% and the mass loss around 10%. The complex geometry was maintained after pyrolysis and shrinkage was approximately 8%, proving pyrolisis to be a suitable process to form near-net-shaped bulk ceramic components.