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Published on: December 20, 2024
Evaluation of crack propagation in dental composites by optical coherence tomography
Ana K S Braz1, Bernardo B C Kyotoku, Rodivan Braz
1Graduate Program in Odontology, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil. anakarla_81@hotmail.com
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to image the sites of fracture initiation and slow crack propagation in a fiber reinforced composite, using the optical coherence tomography (OCT) technique.
Methods:
Bar specimens (2mm x 3mm x 25mm) of fiber reinforced composite were mechanically and thermally cycled to emulate oral conditions. The interior of these samples was analyzed prior to and after loading, using OCT. The device used was a home-built Fourier domain OCT setup working at 800 nm with 6 microm spatial resolution.
Results:
Intact specimens after load cycling were analyzed. It was clearly seen that OCT images provide an insight into crack propagation, which is not seen by the naked eye.
Significance:
By using OCT the possibility of analyzing the fracture propagation quantitatively, and in depth, was added, opening up possibilities to quantitative studies.
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