ISBN 9783843900140

978-3-8439-0014-0, Reihe Werkstoffwissenschaften

Sabine Bechtle
On the mechanical properties of dental enamel - A multi-scale approach -

147 Seiten, Dissertation Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg (2011), Softcover, A5

Zusammenfassung / Abstract

The human dentition consists of 32 teeth providing an excellent biting tool being able to sustain millions of chewing cycles and biting events. However, parts of or entire teeth have to be replaced sometimes as a result of bacteria affection or accidents. For optimization of dental restorative materials, knowledge of the mechanical properties of teeth are essential - also knowledge of the properties of the outer cover layer of teeth, which is enamel. Enamel moreover is an almost self-similar hierarchically structured material which can be used as a model material for analysis of basic material building principles frequently used by nature. Hence, in this work, the mechanical properties of dental enamel were investigated on the bulk level as well as on smaller length scales to gain reliable mechanical data and to learn more about the mechanical effect of hierarchical structuring.