Magister Chirurgiae Dentium (MChD) / A total of 25 third molar teeth (erupted [9], as well as unerupted [16]), from subjects who had lived continuously since birth in an area where the water fluoride concentration was more than 1,8 ppm, were studied. (The range was 1,8 ppm - 2,64 ppm of F-). The subjects had no systemic fluoride supplementation. Tooth brushing with a fluoride containing dentifrice and, perhaps, occasional fluoride mouth rinsing was the only additional exposure to fluoride. The acid-etch biopsy technique was used to determine the fluoride and calcium concentrations at various depths on the enamel surface. The fluoride concentration of the buffered etch solution was determined with an adapted fluoride ion-selective electrode technique, and the amount of calcium by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Six consecutive etchings were done on the mesio-buccal and mesio-lingual cusps of each tooth; the teeth were then washed in an alkali and the same procedure repeated on the disto-buccal and disto-lingual cusps. The depth of etch of each biopsy was calculated assuming that human enamel contains 37% Ca and has a density of 2,95g/ml. It was previously reported, (Grobler & Joubert, 1988), that the enamel fluoride levels of the mesio-buccal and mesio-Iingual sides did not differ from that of the disto-buccal and disto-Iingual sides. The average etch depth and fluoride concentration value as calculated from the values for the two cusps per tooth were used for statistical analysis. The mean etch depths (pm) and mean enamel fluoride concentrations of alkali-washed and unwashed enamel of both erupted and unerupted teeth were tabled, together with the standard deviations and range for each etch. Contrary to the results obtained from a low F- area, no significant difference (p>O.05) could be found in the etch depth between erupted and unerupted enamel in this study. Graphs were plotted by a line fitted to the mean enamel fluoride concentration and mean etch depths values of unwashed erupted, unwashed unerupted, alkali-washed erupted and alkali-washed unerupted third molar teeth. These graphs were compared to the graphs obtained in a comparable study done by Grobler and Kotze (1990), on erupted and unerupted third molar teeth from a low fluoride area (F- < 0,10 ppm). Results indicate that the enamel fluoride concentration in the bulk of the enamel of teeth from a high fluoride area (> 1,8 ppm), is higher than that of teeth from a low fluoride area « 0,10 ppm ). In contrast to the teeth from a low fluoride area, where there was a significant increase (p<0.05) in the fluoride concentration of the outer layer (± 4 J,lm) of erupted enamel when compared to that of the unerupted enamel, no notable increase in the F- content of the enamel was observed in the present study of teeth from a high fluoride area (p>0,05). There was, in addition, no significant (p>0.05) difference between the enamel fluoride content of alkali-washed and unwashed, erupted and unerupted teeth, which showed that very little CaF 2-like material was gained by the enamel after eruption. In both studies the subjects had brushed with a fluoride dentifrice for a period of 1 - 16 years. It was expected that this topical exposure would increase the surface enamel concentration in the high fluoride area similar to the increase found in the low fluoride area. However, this was not the case, and as all the teeth from the high fluoride area exhibited some degree of fluorosis, it was concluded that posteruptive fluoride uptake by fluorotic human enamel without severe enamel loss is limited. This is in agreement with work done by Richards, Fejerskov, Baelum and Likimani (1989).

The filiform-like corrosion of Magnesium (Mg) alloys AZ31B and AM30 was investigated with electrochemical and microanalytical techniques. Potentiodynamic polarization testing and scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET) measurements confirmed the “differential electrocatalytic” mechanism previously reported for filiform and filiform-like corrosion on pure Mg and AZ31B. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) revealed that the MgO corrosion filaments on both alloys were likely a product of the direct reaction of Mg and water (H2O), responsible for the rapid hydrogen (H2) evolution observed at the propagating corrosion fronts. TEM analysis also revealed through-thickness cracks and noble intermetallic particles within the corrosion filaments and noble metal enrichment at the corrosion filament/metal interfaces, which were proposed to play significant roles in the cathodic activation of the corrosion filaments. The higher susceptibility of the AZ31B alloy to cathodic activation versus AM30 suggested that Zinc (Zn) has a detrimental effect on the resistance of Magnesium-Aluminum-Zinc (Mg-Al-Zn) alloys to filiform and filiform-like corrosion. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Gerson Luiz Mantovani / Coorientador: Prof. Dr. Renato Altobelli Antunes / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Nanociências e Materiais Avançados, Santo André, 2018. / Recentemente, a indústria automotiva tem acelerado os esforços para melhorar a economia de combustível dos automóveis. Os aços de alta resistência possibilitam a redução de peso, garantindo a segurança e desempenho. A Microestrutura, propriedades mecânicas e comportamento de corrosão de juntas soldadas de dois aços de alta resistência (LNE500 e AHSS900) foram estudados. Os aportes térmicos utilizados foram de 0,72, 0,70, 0,47 e 0,31 kJ/mm utilizando soldagem a arco elétrico. A microestrutura da junta soldada foi analisada por microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, microscopia eletrônica de varredura, microscopia óptica e difração de raios X. Os resultados confirmam a influência do aporte térmico na microestrutura, fases cristalinas, tamanho de grão, precipitados e suas distribuições. O perfil de dureza (Vickers) revelou uma região de amolecimento localizado na zona afetada pelo calor (ZAC) com grãos finos para as juntas soldadas do metal de base AHSS900. Os resultados do teste de tração revelaram uma variação significativa do escoamento e da resistência à tração entre o metal de base e as amostras soldadas, com a última apresentando ductilidade e resistência reduzidas. O comportamento de corrosão foi estudado utilizando impedância eletroquímica, polarização potenciodinâmica e técnica de varredura por eletrodo vibracional (SVET). A combinação dessas técnicas indicou onde e como a corrosão aconteceu. ZAC e metal de base atuaram como ânodo e o cordão de solda atuou como cátodo. SVET revelou que a corrosão iniciou no cordão de solda e se espalhou pela superfície da junta soldada. A grande quantidade de locais ativos (óxidos) e o alto teor de Si no cordão de solda podem ter sido responsáveis pelo início da corrosão nessa região. As imagens de microscopia confocal mostraram que a ZAC e o metal de base corroeram mais rápido do que o cordão de solda. / Recently, automotive producers have been accelerating efforts to significantly improve vehicle fuel economy. High-strength steels have been proven to achieve weight reduction while meeting vehicle safety and performance requirements. The microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of gas metal arc welded joints of two high strength steels (LNE500 and AHSS900) have been studied. The welded joints were obtained using heat input of 0.72, 0.70, 0.47 and 0.31 kJ/mm. The microstructure was investigated by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results confirm the influence of heat input on the microstructure, crystalline phases, grain size, precipitates size and distribution. Vickers microhardness test revealed a softening region in the fine-grained heat affected zone (FGHAZ) for the AHSS900 welded joints. The tensile test results revealed a significant variation in the magnitude of yield and tensile strength between the base metal and welded samples, with the latter exhibiting reduced ductility and strength. Corrosion behaviour was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarisation and scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET). The combination of these techniques indicated that HAZ and BM acted as the anode and weld metal (WM) acted as the cathode of the galvanic couple. SVET showed that corrosion started in the WM and, then, it spread to the whole joint. The high amount of active sites (oxide inclusions) and the high Si content in the WM may be responsible for corrosion initiation. HAZ/BM corroded faster than WM, producing a depth difference, which was detected by confocal laser scanning microscope.