Materiais cerâmicos à base de óxidos de manganês, de níquel e de cobalto foram preparados por meio de mistura de óxidos seguida de homogeneização e sinterização a 1250 ºC. Os compostos foram caracterizados por meio das técnicas de difração de raios X e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Análise termogravimétrica foi feita sob atmosferas oxidante e redutora. O comportamento termistor foi estudado por meio de medidas de resistividade elétrica pela técnica dc de duas pontas de prova entre temperatura ambiente e 220 °C. Os principais resultados mostram a preparação de termistores em ampla faixa de resposta elétrica por meio da variação da composição relativa dos óxidos de manganês, de níquel e de cobalto.

Ceramic thermistors based on manganese, nickel and cobalt oxides were prepared by mixing these oxides followed by pressing and sintering at 1250 °C. The oxides were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The thermistor behavior was studied by two-probe dc electrical resistivity measurements in the room temperature-220 °C range. The main results show the possibility of preparing thermistors in a wide range of electrical response by suitable choice of the relative concentrations of the precursor oxides.

Energy consumption, air pollution and industrial waste have received special attention from public authorities in recent years. The environment has become one of the most important subjects in the context of modern life, for its deterioration impacts the quality of life populations. Driven by pressure from environmental agencies, politicians have drawn up ever stricter laws aimed at protecting the environment and preserving energy resources. All these factors have led industry, research centers and universities to focus their efforts on researching alternative production processes, creating technologies to minimize or avoid the production of environmentally aggressive residues. Up to a few years ago, the main objective of manufacturing plants was to produce goods aimed at satisfying technological and economic aspects. Green, or "dry" machining and Minimum Quantity Lubricant (MQL) machining have caught the attention of researchers and technicians in the area of machining as an alternative to traditional fluids. Thus, this work proposes to explore the MQL concept in the grinding operation. Although its advantages allow one to predict a growing range of applications for MQL, the variables of influence to be considered and the effects on the results of the process have so far been little studied. Grinding involves several input parameters but, to date, little attention has been focused on the form and quantity of cutting fluid applied to the process. The condition and rate of cutting fluid applied directly influences some of the process's output variables. This work, therefore, analyzes the behavior of the MQL technique under different lubrication and cooling conditions, developing an optimized fluid application methodology based on the creation of a special nozzle through which a minimum amount of oil is pulverized in a compressed air stream. The evaluation of the technical performance of MQL in grinding, using aluminum oxide and superabrasive CBN (cubic boron nitride) grinding wheels, consisted of an experimental analysis of the behavior of the tangential cutting force, G ratio, roughness and residual stress. The results presented herein allowed us to evaluate the behavior of the MQL technique in the grinding process, thus contributing toward an environmentally friendly technology.

O presente trabalho apresenta uma metodologia confiável e de execução rápida para a avaliação do desgaste abrasivo entre as cerâmicas Duceram e Vita nas resinas compostas Z-100 e Charisma. Estes materiais são amplamente utilizados nos consultórios e clínicas dentais para restaurações funcionais e estéticas dos dentes. Para avaliar o desgaste abrasivo entre os materiais, um disco dinâmico revestido com porcelana foi utilizado sobre um disco estático revestido com resina. Os resultados indicaram que a cerâmica Vita apresenta desgaste inferior a Duceram nas resinas analisadas.

This work presents a fast and trustworthy methodology for the evaluation of the abrasive wear between the ceramics Duceram and Vita and the composites resins Z-100 and Charisma. These materials are widely used in dental clinics to restoration of function and aesthetics of the teeth. To evaluate the abrasive wear between the materials, a dynamic disk covered with ceramic was used contrary to a static disk covered with resin. The results showed that Vita presents an inferior wear against Duceram in the resins tested.

Neste trabalho são descritas a montagem e a calibração de um sistema de medidas elétricas com o controle da pressão parcial de oxigênio. Este sistema permite a realização de medidas elétricas desde a temperatura ambiente até 1000 °C em ampla faixa de pressões parciais de oxigênio entre 10-6 e 1 atm. O sistema utiliza as propriedades eletroquímicas dos eletrólitos sólidos à base de zircônia estabilizada para produzir e detectar pressões parciais de oxigênio com boa precisão. As calibrações e testes realizados, compreendendo a verificação das leis de Nernst e de Faraday, evidenciaram o bom funcionamento dos dispositivos construídos. A montagem apresentada neste trabalho, utilizada em conjunto com um sistema de medidas de espectroscopia de impedância, permite a realização de diversos estudos acerca das propriedades elétricas de materiais. Também são apresentados neste trabalho dois exemplos destes estudos, que consistem na investigação das propriedades elétricas de eletrólitos sólidos à base de zircônia e de varistores à base de óxido de estanho.

The set-up and calibration of a system for electrical measurements under controlled oxygen partial pressure is described. The system allows for the electrical characterization of materials from room temperature to 1000 ºC over a wide range of oxygen partial pressures ranging from 10-6 to 1 atm. The system takes advantage of the electrochemical properties of the zirconia based solid electrolytes to produce and detect controlled oxygen partial pressures with accuracy. The calibrations and tests, and also the experimental verifications of both Nernst and Faraday laws, assure that the whole experimental arrangement works properly. Such a set-up along with an impedance spectroscopy measurement system provides a useful tool to study the electrical properties of different materials. In this work, two examples concerning the electrical characterization of zirconia based electrolytes and tin oxide varistors are also presented