Filmes amorfos que não apresentam piezoeletricidade intrínseca, podem ser induzidos a mostrar um efeito piezoelétrico linear quando um fluxo de íons é estabelecido através dele. O efeito está relacionado ao efeito piezoelétrico induzido pela corrente elétrica, exceto que ele está presente ainda que o fluxo de íons positivo a negativo sejam iguais (corrente zero). Um filme circular de celofane é colocada entre duas células de vidro, tal que ela separa água pura de uma solução de cloreto de sódio (NaCl). A diferença de nível dos líquidos fornece uma pressão estática que mantém uma curvatura na membrana, ou no sentido da água ou no sentido da solução. Um transdutor eletromagnético acoplado a água e dirigido senoidalmente por um oscilado, deforma o filme ciclicamente, e eletrodos de platinam um de cada lado do filme, levam os sinais elétricos a um detector síncromo com a deformação aplicada. Enquanto o sinal elétrico observado poderia ser devido a efeitos espúrios dos eletrodos, a inversão observada na fase deste sinal com a mudança da curvatura indica que ele é dependente da deformação de um filme separando dois eletrólitos é devido `a modulação da mobilidade iônica pela deformação aplicada / Amorphous films which can have intrinsic piezoelectricity, can be induced to show a linear piezoelectric effect when a flux of ions is established across them. The effect is related to the electric current induced piezoelectric effect, except that is present even though positive and negative ion fluxes are equal (zero-current). A circular cellophane film is put between two glass cell, so that it separates pure water from a NaCl solution. A level difference of liquids provides a static pressure supports a membrane curvature, either towards or away from the water. An electromagnetic transducer, coupled to the water and driven sinusoidally by a oscillator deforms the film cyclically and platinum electrodes on either side of the film lead the electric signals to a detector synchronized with the applied deformation. While the electric signal observed might be due spurious effects from the electrodes, the observed might be due to spurious effects from the electrodes, the observed reversal in phase of the signal with the change of curvature of the film signifies that it is deformation-dependent. The deformation-dependent electricity in a film separating two electrolytes is owing to the modulation of the mobility of the ions by the applied deformation

La cataclase est un processus de déformation efficace en termes de réduction de porosité et de perméabilité dans les grès poreux, constituant des aquifères et réservoirs d’hydrocarbures classiques. Un enjeu majeur concernant la déformation dans les grès consiste à identifier les processus contrôlant l’évolution des structures cataclastiques et reconnaitre les paramètres influençant l’expression de la déformation à l’échelle microscopique et à l’échelle du bassin.Dans cette étude, nous nous concentrons sur l’analyse structurale des amas (« clusters ») de bande de déformation cataclastiques afin de considérer une déformation suffisamment localisée représentant un potentiel rôle de barrière sur les fluides. Nous choisissons sept sites d’étude présentant des clusters formés en tectonique extensive et contractive, dans différent régimes Andersoniens, à différentes profondeurs d’enfouissement, et dans des grès aux lithologies variées. Nous utilisons une approche analytique afin d’estimer l’évolution de l’état de contrainte des grès jusqu’à la déformation. L’utilisation de modèles numériques permet d’analyser l’influence de certains paramètres physiques sur la structuration de la déformation.Nous montrons que la position de l’enveloppe de rupture du grès (dépendant de sa lithologie) semble déterminer la morphologie de la déformation. D’autre part, les clusters formés en régimes Andersoniens normal, décrochant et inverse semblent respectivement couramment se former sur la même partie de l’enveloppe.Les clusters formés en régime normal montrent des épaisseurs fines à moyennes, des densités de bande importantes et forment, avec d’autres clusters, des réseaux d’échelle kilométrique souvent localisés à proximité d’une faille majeure. Ils représentent une barrière potentielle pour les fluides. Les clusters formés en régime décrochant ont des épaisseurs et des densités de band moyennes. Parce qu’ils semblent éparses, ces clusters ne forment probablement aucun frein pour les fluides. Les clusters formés en régime inverse ont des épaisseurs et des densités de bande moyennes si la rupture est atteinte sur la partie fragile de l’enveloppe. Ils semblent potentiellement plus épais avec des densités de bands faibles voire deviennent de simples réseaux de bandes distribuées si l’enveloppe de rupture est atteinte sur sa partie ductile. Parce qu’ils sont courts et éparses, ces clusters ne représentent pas de frein pour les fluides.Nous relions le développement des clusters et leur morphologie à l’agencement microscopique des clasts dans le matériel déformé. La faible compaction du matériel déformé des clusters créés en régimes normal et décrochant semble être à l’origine de l’étroite localisation des bandes à cause de la présence de plans de faiblesse dans le matériel déformé. Pour le même degré de déformation, la compaction plus élevée du matériel en régime inverse favoriserait la distribution des bandes.Le passage à la faille tel qu’observé dans les clusters en régime normal est permis par la présence entre les grès de niveaux incluant des minéraux fragiles. Ces niveaux permettent l’initiation et la propagation d’une surface de glissement majeure dans les grès adjacents. L’initiation d’une faille est aussi favorisée lorsque des grès poreux sont juxtaposés contre une lithologie indurée.Notre étude montre que la cimentation de quartz des parties les plus déformées des clusters est fréquente, même dans le cas de clusters ayant été enfouis à des profondeurs inférieures à 800 m. Cette cimentation est catalysée par l’intense degré de cataclase, semble être précipitée par « self-healing » et altère les propriétés pétrophysiques des clusters. / Deformation through cataclasis, which corresponds to grain crushing, is an effective process of porosity and permeability reduction in porous sandstones, classical aquifers and hydrocarbon reservoirs at depth. A major stake concerning the deformation in sandstone is to understand what processes govern the growth of the cataclastic structures and to recognize what parameters influence the expression of the deformation at microscopic scale and at basin scale.In this study, we focus on the analysis of cataclastic deformation band clusters in order to consider a significantly concentrated deformation regarding the potential of fluid flow baffling. We select seven study sites presenting clusters formed in extensional and contractional tectonics, under different Andersonian regimes, at various burial depths and in sandstones of varying lithologies. To complement the structural analysis, we use an analytical approach to estimate the stress-state evolution of the sandstones leading to deformation. Numerical modeling allows the analysis of the influence of physical parameters on the structuring of the deformation.We show that the position of failure along the failure envelope of the sandstone (which depends on its lithology) seems to determine the morphology of deformation. On the other hand, normal, strike-slip and thrust Andersonian regime clusters respectively seem to form frequently on the same part of the envelope.Normal regime clusters (favorably formed in extensional tectonics) have thin to medium thickness, with high band density and form, with other clusters, networks of km-scale length - often localized near a major fault. They are likely to baffle fluid flow. Strike-slip regime clusters (favorably formed in contractional tectonics) have medium thickness with medium band densities. Due to their sparseness, they seem unlikely to form a baffle for fluids. Thrust regime clusters (favorably formed in contractional tectonics) have medium thickness and medium band density if failure is attained on the brittle part of the envelope. They seem potentially thicker, with low band density and tend to form arrays of deformation bands if failure is attained on the cap of the envelope. Because they are short and sparse, they do not represent an effective baffle for fluid flow.We relate the process of cluster growth and their resulting morphology to the microscopic arrangement of the clasts in the deformed material. The minor compaction in the deformed material of normal and strike-slip regime clusters seems to be at the origin of the dense localization of the bands through the presence of weaker planes in the deformed material. For the same degree of deformation, the more compacted material in thrust regime clusters would favor the distribution of the bands.Faulting of normal regime clusters is enhanced by the presence of layers including weak minerals between the sandstones. These weak layers are responsible for the initiation and propagation of major slip-surfaces in the adjacent sandstone from small displacements. The initiation of major slip-surfaces is also favored when porous sandstone is juxtaposed with a hard lithology.We find that the quartz cementation of the most deformed parts of the clusters is common, even in clusters that were never buried below 800 m. This cementation is promoted by an intense degree of cataclasis, seems to form by “self-healing”, and may reduce the petrophysical properties of clusters.

Diante do aumento de lesões de erosão e a necessidade de métodos que controlem a sintomatologia dolorosa a elas relacionada, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar, através de um modelo in situ, crossover 2 x 2, o efeito de um dentifrício dessensibilizante associado ao laser de CO2 em controlar a permeabilidade da dentina radicular erodida. Oitenta fragmentos de dentina radicular bovina (3 x 3 x 2 mm) foram submetidos a um desafio erosivo inicial (ácido cítrico 0.3%, 2 h), seguidos por um período de remineralização em saliva artificial (24 h). Os espécimes foram divididos de acordo com o tratamento dentinário: dentifrício dessensibilizante, dentifrício dessensibilizante + laser CO2, dentifrício anticárie com flúor e dentifrício anticárie com flúor + laser de CO2. Após um período de lead-in de 2 dias, dez voluntários utilizaram dispositivo palatino contendo 4 fragmentos de dentina radicular em duas fases de 5 dias cada. Durante a fase intraoral, um dos lados do dispositivo era imerso em ácido cítrico 0.3%, e o lado oposto em água deionizada, quatro vezes ao dia. Uma hora após as imersões os espécimes foram escovados com slurry dos dentifrícios fornecido pelo pesquisador. Na primeira fase, metade dos voluntários tratou os espécimes com dentifrício dessensibilizante, enquanto a outra metade utilizou o dentifrício anticárie com flúor. Após um período de 7 dias de wash-out, os voluntários foram cruzados quanto ao dentifrício. Ao final de cada fase os espécimes foram submetidos à coloração histoquímica e seccionados para serem analisados quanto à permeabilidade por meio de microscopia óptica. Os dados obtidos foram analisados através da ANOVA e não houve diferenças significantes (p=0,272) entre os tratamentos realizados na dentina radicular de dentes bovinos. Pode-se concluir que dentifrícios anticárie com flúor ou dessensibilizante, independente da associação com laser de CO2, podem controlar a permeabilidade em dentina radicular erodida. / Facing the increased prevalence of erosive lesion and the need of preventive means to control painful symptoms related to them, the aim of this study was to evaluate, through a crossover 2 x 2 in situ trial, the effect of a desensitizing dentifrice combined with CO2 laser irradiation to control the permeability of eroded root dentin. Eighty slabs of bovine root dentin (3 x 3 x 2 mm) were subjected to initial erosive challenge (citric acid 0.3%, 2 h), followed by a remineralizing period in artificial saliva (24 h). Specimens were then divided according to dentin treatment: desensitizing dentifrice, desensitizing dentifrice + CO2 laser, fluoride anticaries dentifrice and fluoride anticaries dentifrice + CO2 laser. After a 2-day lead-in period, ten volunteers wore an intraoral palatal appliance containing 4 root dentin slabs, in 2 phases of 5 days each. During the intraoral phase, one side of the appliance was immersed in 0.3% citric acid, and the opposite side in deionized water, four times a day. One hour after the immersions, all specimens were brushed with dentifrice slurry provided by the researcher. At the first phase, half of volunteers brushed the specimens with desensitizing dentifrice, and the other half used the fluoride anticaries dentifrice. After a 7-day wash-out period, volunteers were crossed-over on the dentifrice. Completed each phase the specimens were stained and sectioned to be assessed for permeability through optical microscope. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and no significant difference (p=0,272) was found between the surface treatments performed on bovine root dentin. It can be concluded that fluoride anticaries or desensitizing dentifrice, regardless of association with the CO2 laser irradiation, were able to permeability of eroded root dentin.

Prevention of the corrosion of steel reinforcement embedded in concrete is a constant challenge in engineering. A study of concrete surface resistivity versus elevation of partially immersed reinforced concrete structures in a marine splash zone has been developed and correlations made between concrete quality and chloride diffusion, i.e., aggressive ion permeability. A conditioning procedure was developed in which the concrete moisture content is increased by direct contact with fresh water for several days. The electrical resistivity of concrete is known to be primarily a function of the degree of water saturation. Correlations between field obtained concrete surface resistivity values versus chloride diffusivity, and between normalized resistivity measured on cores obtained from the field versus chloride diffusivity has been established. The resistivity values were measured on structures with different concrete mixes and various ages. / by Andres M. Suarez-Solano. / Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

The objective of this research was to characterize the seawater transport and its effect on the transverse tensile strength of a carbon/vinylester composite. The moisture contents of neat vinylester and unidirectional carbon/vinylester composite panels immersed in seawater were monitored until saturation. A model for moisture up-take was developed based on superposition of Fickian diffusion, and Darcy’s law for capillary transport of water. Both the predicted and measured saturation times increased with increasing panel size, however the diffusion model predicts much longer times while the capillary model predicts shorter time than observed experimentally. It was also found that the saturation moisture content decreased with increasing panel size. Testing of macroscopic and miniature composite transverse tensile specimens, and SEM failure inspection revealed more fiber/matrix debonding in the seawater saturated composite than the dry composite, consistent with a slightly reduced transverse tensile strength. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Chloride ions present in the marine atmosphere contained in marine aerosols is investigated for a relationship with chloride that accumulated into concrete. Chloride profiles are conducted on several concrete mixes containing fly ash, silica fume, and slag, with water to cementitious ratios of 0.35, 0.41, and 0.47. The chloride accumulation in concrete samples exposed to the environment is investigated with relation to the chloride deposition from the marine atmosphere measured via the wet candle test. Results indicate a possible relationship for the total accumulated chloride in the concrete with the accumulated chloride deposition (wet candle). Over the exposure periods, concrete specimens with 50% slag addition and 0.47 w/cm had the lowest average rates of chloride accumulation for deposition under 100 g/m2day. Chloride accumulation was lower in concrete containing 20% fly ash and 8% silica fume with 0.35 w/cm for chloride deposition rates over 200 g/m2day. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

A erosão em dentina radicular tem se intensificado e novas terapias foram introduzidas para possibilitar a diminuição da sintomatologia dolorosa. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da associação do verniz fluoretado aos lasers de Er:YAG ou Nd:YAG na permeabilidade da dentina radicular erodida. Sessenta fragmentos de dentina radicular bovina (2 x 2 x 2 mm) foram submetidos a um desafio erosivo inicial, por meio da imersão em ácido cítrico a 0,3% (pH= 3,2) por duas horas. A seguir, os espécimes foram divididos aleatoriamente em seis grupos (n=10) de acordo com o tratamento: verniz fluoretado, verniz fluoretado + laser de Er:YAG, verniz fluoretado + laser de Nd:YAG, verniz placebo (sem flúor, controle), verniz placebo + laser de Er:YAG, verniz placebo + laser de Nd:YAG. Após 24 horas do emprego do verniz, foram aplicados os lasers de Er:YAG (100 mJ e 3 Hz) ou de Nd:YAG (70 mJ e 15 Hz). Novos desafios erosivos utilizando o mesmo ácido, durante cinco dias, quatro vezes ao dia, por um minuto foram realizados após o tratamento da dentina. Para análise da permeabilidade os espécimes foram submetidos à coloração histoquímica. Os espécimes foram seccionados e analisados por microscopia óptica. A permeabilidade relativa foi quantificada pela relação entre a profundidade de penetração dos íons cobre e espessura da dentina. Os dados obtidos foram analisados através da ANOVA a dois critérios e a interação entre os fatores laser e verniz não foi significativa (p= 0,858), bem como para o fator verniz (p= 0,768). Constatou-se efeito significativo para o fator laser (p< 0,001), sendo que os valores de permeabilidade na dentina radicular irradiada com os lasers Er:YAG ou Nd:YAG não diferiram entre si e ambos foram inferiores àqueles observados para o grupo não irradiado. Pode-se concluir que lasers de Er:YAG e Nd:YAG podem controlar a permeabilidade da dentina radicular erodida, independentemente da aplicação de verniz. / The prevalence of root dentine erosion has increased and new therapies were introduced to minimize painful symptoms. This study evaluated the combined effect of fluoride varnish to Er:YAG and Nd:YAG lasers irradiation in controlling the permeability of eroded root dentine. Sixty fragments of bovine slabs (2 x 2 x 2 mm) were subjected to an erosive challenge, through immersion in citric acid 0.3% (pH= 3.2) during two hours. Then, the specimens with pre-formed lesions were divided in six groups (n=10) according to the respective treatment: fluoride varnish, fluoride varnish + Er:YAG laser, fluoride varnish + Nd:YAG, placebo varnish (F-free, control), placebo varnish + Er:YAG laser, placebo varnish + Nd:YAG laser. Twenty-four hours after varnish application, specimens were irradiated with Er:YAG laser (100 mJ, 3 Hz) or Nd:YAG laser (70 mJ and 15 Hz). After surface treatment, further erosive challenges were performed with the same acid during 1 min, 4 times a day, for 5 days. Specimens were sectioned and subjected to optical microscopic. The relative permeability was quantified by the ratio between the depth of penetration of copper ions and the thickness of dentin. Two-way ANOVA demonstrated no significant interaction between laser and varnish (p= 0,858), as well as for varnish (p= 0,768). There was significant effect of laser (p< 0,001), and permeability values of irradiated dentine had no difference when comparing both tested lasers and both of them were lower than that observed for non-irradiated group. It may be concluded that Er:YAG and Nd:YAG lasers can control the permeability of root dentin eroded, regardless of fluoride varnish application.

Les vésicules sont des structures auto-assemblées formant des compartiments clos à l’échelle nanométrique ou micrométrique. Les différentes applications envisagées pour ces objets vont de la vectorisation de principes actifs à leur utilisation en tant que nano/micro-réacteur. Elles nécessitent donc un contrôle fin des propriétés de perméabilité des membranes vésiculaires. Au cours de cette thèse, des vésicules dont les membranes sont formées par des copolymères à blocs amphiphiles, vésicules appelées polymersomes, ont été formulées et étudiées. Pour répondre au mieux aux applications mentionnées, nous avons synthétisé de nouveaux copolymères amphiphiles capables de s’auto-assembler sous forme de vésicules pour étudier l’influence de l’architecture moléculaire sur les propriétés de membrane. Différentes stratégies pouvant permettre de moduler la perméabilité de ces assemblages ont ainsi été mises au point et étudiées : la formation de membranes hybrides polymère / lipide pour l’eau et l’utilisation d’un transporteur ionique pour les ions calcium. Finalement, l’influence de l’architecture macromoléculaire du copolymère sur l’évolution de forme des vésicules sous l’action d’un stress osmotique a été déterminée. Cette étude, alliant des analyses par diffusion de lumière et de neutrons ainsi que des études en microscopie électronique, a permis d’établir une modélisation complète. / Vesicles are self-assembled structures which form closed compartments at the nanometric or micrometric scale. These synthetic objects can be used for several kinds of applications, ranging from drug delivery to nano / microreactor for confined chemical reactions. The need to precisely control the vesicle membrane permeability is common to all these applications. In this thesis, vesicles resulting from the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers, namely polymersomes, were prepared and studied. For this purpose, we synthesized new amphiphilic copolymers that can self-assemble into vesicles to study the influence of macromolecular parameters on the membrane properties. The formation of polymer / lipid hybrid vesicles for the water permeability and the use of an ion carrier selective for divalent cations have been studied as different methods which should allow the tuning of the membrane permeability. Finally, the influence of the copolymer architecture, molecular weight and hydrophobic chemical nature on the shape evolution of vesicles submitted to an osmotic stress has been studied. This study, combining light and neutron scattering with electron microscopy, allowed us to establish a complete modelisation of the shape evolution trajectory.

Objetivo: Este estudo avaliou o efeito dos agentes dessensibilizantes associados ou não ao laser de diodo na permeabilidade dentinária e na morfologia da superfície. Materiais e Métodos: Para este estudo, 104 espécimes de dentina radicular bovina foram divididos aleatoriamente em 4 grupos e 2 subgrupos (n=13): G1A= nenhum tratamento (controle), G1B= laser de diodo, G2A= Oxagel, G2B= laser de diodo + Oxagel, G3A= Mi Paste, G3B= laser de diodo + Mi Paste, G4A= Sensitive Pró-Alívio dessensibilizante, G4B= laser de diodo + Sensitive Pró-Alívio dessensibilizante. Para análise da permeabilidade, 10 espécimes de cada grupo foram imersos em ácido clorídrico a 1% durante 20 segundos, 3 vezes, com intervalo de 2 horas entre as imersões, para exposição dos túbulos dentinários. A aplicação dos agentes dessensibilizantes foi feita de acordo com as instruções do fabricante e a irradiação com o laser de diodo foi feita no modo contato, comprimento de onda de 970 nm +/- 10 nm, potência máxima de 7 W CW, frequência de 10 Hz, durante 25 segundos. Em seguida, os espécimes foram submetidos à coloração histoquímica e seccionados para serem analisados quanto à permeabilidade por meio de microscopia óptica (MO). A permeabilidade dentinária foi dada pela porcentagem de penetração do corante em relação à área total do espécime seccionado. Os espécimes remanescentes (n = 3) foram utilizados para análise microscópica da superfície que foi dividida em duas áreas (controle e tratada). A exposição dos túbulos dentinários e a aplicação dos tratamentos foram realizadas da forma já descrita e, na sequência, os espécimes foram avaliados em microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Os valores obtidos de permeabilidade foram analisados através da ANOVA. Resultados: Nenhuma diferença estatística significante foi observada entre os tratamentos. Na microscopia eletrônica de varredura, foi observada uma ligeira diferença entre a área tratada e a área controle, exceto no grupo 4B. Comparando os grupos A e B (sem e associado ao laser, respectivamente), nenhuma mudança significativa foi notada na superfície dentinária. Conclusão: A aplicação dos agentes dessensibilizantes associados ou não ao laser diodo não influenciou na permeabilidade dentinária radicular e na morfologia da superfície dentinária. / Objective: This study evaluated the effect of desensitizing agents associated or not with laser diode on dentin permeability and surface morphology. Materials and Methods: For this study, 104 bovine root dentin specimens were randomly divided into 4 groups and 2 subgroups (n = 13): G1A = no treatment (control), G1B= diode laser, G2A= Oxagel, G2B= diode laser + Oxagel, G3A= Mi Paste, G3B= diode laser + Mi Paste, G4A= Sensitive Pro-Relief desensitizing, G4B= diode laser + Sensitive Pro-Relief desensitizing. For permeability analysis , 10 specimens were immersed in 1% hydrochloric acid for 20 seconds, three times, with an interval of 2 hours between them, to expose the dentinal tubules. The application of desensitizing agents was performed according to the manufacturers instructions and the irradiation with the laser diode was made on contact mode, wavelength of 970 nm +/- 10 nm, maximum output 7 W CW, 10 Hz, for 25 seconds. After that, the specimens were imaged in an optical microscope (OM) and permeability was measured in the digitized images as the percentage of cooper ions penetration over the total area. The remaining specimens (n = 3) were used for surface microscopic analysis and they were divided in two areas (control and treated). The dentinal tubules exposure and the treatments application were performed as previously described and then analysed in scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The permeability values were analyzed using ANOVA. Results: No statistical significant difference among the treatments was observed. For scanning electron microscopy, there was a slight difference between the treated and control area, except for group 4B. Comparing groups A and B (without and associated with laser, respectively), no significant change was verified on the dentin surface. Conclusion: The application of desensitizing agents associated or not with diode laser did not affect the root dentin permeability and the dentin surface morphology.

Os bisfosfonatos representam uma classe de drogas que agem sobre o metabolismo ósseo e são amplamente utilizadas na prevenção e tratamento de estados osteopênicos e osteoporóticos. Tem sido demonstrado que alterações na estrutura dos tecidos dentais podem ocorrer como efeitos adversos à administração sistêmica do alendronato de sódio. No esmalte de dentes de ratos submetidos ou não ao uso sistêmico de alendronato de sódio, os objetivos do presente estudo foram: 1) avaliar a resistência do esmalte a desafios ácidos (indução artificial de lesões de cárie e indução artificial de lesões de erosão) por meio da mensuração da microdureza subsuperficial e da profundidade das lesões; 2) avaliar a permeabilidade do esmalte por meio de técnica histoquímica. Foi utilizada a porção coronária de 20 incisivos superiores de 10 animais submetidos à medicação com alendronato de sódio (grupo experimental) e 16 incisivos superiores de 8 animais que receberam apenas água destilada (grupo controle). Para os experimentos de indução artificial de lesão de cárie e de lesão de erosão, as porções coronárias de 18 incisivos superiores foram seccionadas ao meio, no sentido transversal, obtendo-se duas secções de aproximadamente 8 mm de comprimento de cada dente, num total de 36 secções que foram aleatoriamente divididas de acordo com o grupo experimental (n=10/grupo/experimento) e controle (n=8/grupo/experimento). Para a avaliação da permeabilidade, foram utilizados 18 incisivos superiores restantes, sendo 10 para o grupo experimental e 8 para o grupo controle. As variáveis de resposta quantitativa para o estudo foram a porcentagem da variação de perda de dureza subsuperficial (%VPD) na indução artificial de lesões de cárie e lesões de erosão, avaliadas em microdurômetro; e a profundidade das lesões de desmineralização de cárie/erosão e a permeabilidade do esmalte avaliadas em microscopia de luz. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise estatística por meio do teste ANOVA. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. De acordo com os resultados obtidos verificou-se que não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos experimental e controle (p>0,05), tanto na porcentagem de VPD quanto na profundidade das lesões de cárie/erosão. Com relação à permeabilidade não foi observada diferença significante entre os grupos (p>0,05), mostrando penetração do agente traçador semelhante em ambos. Pôde-se concluir que, após o uso sistêmico do alendronato de sódio, o esmalte de dentes de ratos não apresentou maior resistência aos desafios ácidos (indução artificial de lesões de cárie e erosão) e não sofreu alteração em sua permeabilidade. / Bisphosphonates represent a class of drugs that act on bone metabolism and are widely used in the prevention and treatment of osteopenic and osteoporotic states. It has been demonstrated that structural alterations on dental tissues might occur as adverse effects of systemic sodium alendronate administration. In the dental enamel of rats subjected or not to systemic use of sodium alendronate, the objectives of the present study were: 1) to evaluate enamel resistance to acid challenges (artificial induction of carious lesions and artificial induction of erosion lesions) by analysis of subsurface microhardness and lesion depth; 2) to evaluate enamel permeability by a histochemical coloring method. The crowns of 20 upper incisors of 10 animals, which received chemically pure sodium alendronate (experimental group), and 16 upper incisors of 8 animals, which received distilled water (control group) were used in the study. For the experiments of artificial induction of carious and erosion lesions, the coronal portions of 18 upper incisors were bisected transversally to produce two 8-mm-long sections per tooth, totalizing 36 sections, which were randomly assigned according to the experimental group (n=10/group/experiment) and the control group (n=8/group/experiment). For the permeability test, the remaining 18 upper incisors were used, being 10 of the experimental group and 8 of the control group. The quantitative response variables were the percent subsurface Knoop microhardness change (%SHC) assessed with a microhardness meter at different depths from enamel surface for the artificially induced carious/erosion lesions; and the carious/erosion lesions depth and enamel permeability, measured by light microscopy. The results were subjected to statistical analysis by ANOVA test with significance level set at 5%. There was no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups (p>0.05) for either %SHC or depth of the artificially induced carious/erosion lesions. Data from the permeability test revealed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between the groups, showing similar penetration of the tracer agent in both of them. Therefore, it may be concluded that after the systemic use of sodium alendronate, the enamel of rat teeth did not present higher resistance to acid challenges (artificially induced carious/erosion lesions) and did not suffer alteration of its permeability.