Modeling Acid Fracturing Treatments in Heterogeneous Carbonate Reservoirs

The goal of acid fracturing operations is to create enough fracture roughness through non-uniform acid etching on fracture surfaces such that the acid fracture can keep open and sustain a high enough acid fracture conductivity under the formation closure stress. A detailed description of the rough acid-fracture surfaces is required for accurately predicting the acid-fracture conductivity. In this paper, a 3D acid transport model was developed to compute the geometry of acid fracture for acid fracturing treatments. The developed model couples the acid fluid flow, reactive transport and rock dissolution in the fracture. We also included acid viscous fingering in our model since the viscous fingering mechanism is commonly applied in acid fracturing to achieve non-uniform acid etching. Carbonate reservoirs mainly consists of calcite and dolomite minerals but the mineral distribution can be quite heterogeneous. Based on the developed model, we analyzed the effect of mineral heterogeneity on the acid etching process. We compared the acid etching patterns in different carbonate reservoirs with different spatial distributions of calcite and dolomite minerals. We found that thin acid-etched channels can form in carbonate reservoirs with interbedded dolomite layers. When the reservoir heterogeneity does not favor growing thin acid-etched channels, we investigated how to utilize the acid viscous fingering technique to achieve the channeling etching pattern in such reservoirs. Through numerical simulations, we found that thin acid-etched channels can form inside acid viscous fingers. The regions between viscous fingers are left less etched and act as barriers to separate acid-etched channels. In acid fracturing treatments with viscous fingering, the etching pattern is largely dependent on the perforation spacing. With a proper perforation design, we can still achieve the channeling etching pattern even when the reservoir does not have interbedded dolomite layers.

Effect of Exposure Times of Sodium Hypochlorite before Acid Etching on the Microshear Bond Strength to Fluorotic Enamel

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of different treatment time of 5.25% Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) on the microshear bond strength (μSBS), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and etching pattern in mild and moderate fluorotic enamel. Study design: Forty-eight fluorotic molars were divided into two groups: mild and moderate fluorotic enamel which were classified by a Thylstrup and Fejerskov index (TFI). Based on the application time (0s, 60s, 120s, 180s) of 5.25% NaOCl, each group was sectioned into four parts. Then the etched enamel was bonded with resin and tested to acquire μSBS. The statistical method was two-way ANOVA and Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at α = 0.05. Besides, fracture modes were observed under a stereo microscope. SEM was used to evaluated the enamel-etching pattern and organic content on the fluorotic enamel surface were investigated by ATR-FTIR. Results: Duration of 5.25% NaOCl at 60s or 120s significantly increased the μSBS of fluorotic enamel compared to 0s (p<0.05). Fracture modes indicated that dominating failures were set in the bonding interface but whose proportion decreased when 5.25% NaOCl was applied. The enamel-etching pattern in 180s was deepest under SEM. Spectra of enamel samples manifested an obvious and gradual removal of its organic phase after duration of NaOCl increased. Conclusion: The maximal μSBS is acquired by using 5.25% NaOCl at 60s for mild fluorotic enamel but 120s for the moderate. The prolonged application time of 5.25% NaOCl prior to phosphoric acid etching improves enamel-etching pattern. Treatment of 5.25% NaOCl decreases proteins on the fluorotic enamel surface.

Effect of surface treatments on the adhesive properties of metallic brackets on fluorotic enamel

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the effectiveness of the pretreatment with sandblasting and deproteinization with NaOCl on bond strength (SBS), in situ conversion degree (CD) of brackets in fluorotic enamel, and enamel etching pattern. Methods: A total of 90 non-carious maxillary premolars were used. The teeth were then assigned to six experimental groups according to: enamel surface (sound and fluorotic enamel); surface treatment (Regular etch with 37% phosphoric acid [RE]; 5.2% sodium hypochlorite + phosphoric acid [NaOCl + RE]; sandblasting + phosphoric acid [sandblasting + RE]). After storage in distilled water (37°C/24h), the specimens were tested at 1 mm/min until failure (SBS). Enamel-resin cement interfaces were evaluated for CD using micro-Raman spectroscopy. The enamel-etching pattern was evaluated under a scanning electron microscope. Data from SBS and in situ CD values were analyzed using ANOVA two-away and Tukey test (α=0.05). The enamel etching pattern was evaluated only qualitatively. Results: For sound enamel, RE showed the highest SBS values, when compared to NaOCl + RE and Sandblasting + RE groups (p< 0.01). Regarding CD, only NaOCl + RE significantly compromised the mean DC, in comparison with other groups (p= 0.002). For fluorotic enamel, the Sandblasting + RE group significantly increased the mean SBS values, in comparison with RE group (p= 0.01) and no significant change was observed for CD (p> 0.52). Conclusions: The application of NaOCl or sandblasting associated to phosphoric acid improved the SBS of the brackets in fluorotic enamel without compromising the CD of the resin cement, with improving of enamel interprismatic conditioning.

The Effect of Dental Enamel Pre-Etching for Self-Etching Adhesives According to their Primer pH: An In Vitro Bond Strength, Etching Pattern and Adhesive Failure Evaluation

Dental enamel pre-etching before the application of a self-etching adhesive (SEA) has different effects depending on the pH of the adhesive acidic monomer, being not always beneficial. This study aimed to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS), etching pattern, and fracture type of different acidity SEAs, with and without previous phosphoric acid etching. One-hundred-sixty bovine incisors were subjected to SBS testing with the following adhesive systems: Adper-Prompt-L-Pop (APLP) (strong acidity), Futurabond NR (FB), AdheSE One F (AD) (intermediary acidity) and Clearfil SE (CSE) (mild acidity), with and without previous phosphoric acid etching. Results were evaluated applying both ANOVA and Tukey’s test. Besides, forty bovine incisors were used to assess etching patterns using scanning-electron-microscopy (SEM). Adhesive failure was evaluated, classifying bond failure as one of five types. SBS averages were (MPa): without pre-etching: APLP (20.61±11.84), CSE (17.29±10.16), FB (11.44±6.99), AD (7.88±4.85) and with pre-etching: APLP (16.17±9.68), CSE (25.96±11.75), FB (20.12±9.39), AD (14,28±9.42). Different enamel etching patterns were observed depending on each SEA’s pH and whether the surface was pre-etched. Most fracture failures were adhesive type. Less than 10 % were cohesive type. SBS improves when mild and intermediary strength SEAs are pre-etched. However, it decreases when strong SEAs are pre-etched.

Investigation of 〈100〉-oriented etching pattern on diamond coated with Ni and Cu

Diamond etching of [Formula: see text] orientation is processed in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber using H2 as reactive gas. Etching process happens on diamond substrates using a variety of etch mask materials including copper and nickel. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) show different kinds of diamond etching pattern of two mask materials. It is observed that the etching pit of copper is tetrahedron, while the etching pit of nickel is step structure. This indicates diverse etching mechanism of diamond etched by different metal. Observing the surface etching topography of diamond and analyzing the etching mechanism of different metal can help study the growth of diamond by CVD and controllable etching of diamond.

Etching Patterns of Sodium Hypochlorite Pretreated Hypocalcified Amelogenesis Imperfecta Primary Molars: SEM Study

Aim: To investigate the etching patterns of hypocalcified amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) in primary molars pretreated with 5.25% NaOCl prior to phosphoric acid application using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Study design: Ten hypocalcified AI primary molars were collected, sectioned longitudinally into 2 parts and allocated into two groups of ten specimens each. The enamel surface in the first group (control group) was etched using 37% phosphoric acid gel for 15 seconds; while in the second group (study group), it was pretreated using 5.25 sodium hypochlorite(NaOCl) for 60 seconds prior to acid etching. Each specimen was examined at 16 different sites, and evaluated for the etching pattern (types I, II, and III) distribution using SEM. A total of 320 microphotographs at 1,500 magnification were obtained using Auto-Cad 2007 software. Results: The etching pattern with phosphoric acid was not uniform with predominance of type III etching (65.63%), while the pretreated enamel surfaces showed a significant increase in type I and II(82.5%) etching patterns (P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Treatment of primary teeth affected by hypocalcified AI using 5.25% NaOCl prior to phosphoric acid etching significantly improves the etching pattern which is required for good resin bonding.

A Novel Enamel and Dentin Etching Protocol Using α-hydroxy Glycolic Acid: Surface Property, Etching Pattern, and Bond Strength Studies

SUMMARY Objectives: To determine the use of α-hydroxy glycolic acid (GA) as a surface pretreatment for dental restorative applications. The etching pattern of GA pretreatment of dental hard tissues was assessed by surface microhardness and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effectiveness of GA surface etching on the enamel and dentin resin bond strengths was assessed using two etchant application modes (rubbing and no rubbing) and three adhesive systems (Single Bond [SB], One Step Plus [OSP], and Scotchbond Universal [SBU]). Methods: Knoop microhardness measurements were carried out on polished enamel and dentin surfaces before and after treatment with 35% GA, 35% phosphoric acid (PA), or distilled water (control group) for 30 seconds. The microtensile bond strength test was carried out on enamel and dentin. Ultrastructural analysis of the surface and interfacial interaction was qualitatively accomplished using SEM. Results: Etching with either PA or GA significantly decreased the enamel microhardness, with GA being significantly less aggressive than PA (p&lt;0.001), while both acids showed similar decreases in dentin microhardness (p=0.810). SEM revealed similar etching patterns of GA and PA, while apparently a thinner hybrid layer was observed for GA groups. In dentin, the bond strengths were statistically similar between PA and GA groups, regardless of the etchant application mode (p&gt;0.05). However, rubbing of GA enhanced the bond strength to enamel. PA and GA significantly increased the SBU bond strength to enamel when compared to SB and OSP (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: GA effectively etched enamel and dentin surfaces, resulting in bond strength values similar to those associated with traditional PA. GA is a suitable enamel and dentin surface etchant for adhesive restorative procedures.

Effect of Different Protocols in Preconditioning With EDTA in Sclerotic Dentin and Enamel Before Universal Adhesives Applied in Self-etch Mode

SUMMARY Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different protocols of 17% ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) conditioning on the etching pattern and immediate bond strength of universal adhesives to enamel and sclerotic dentin. Methods and Materials: Forty bovine teeth with sclerotic dentin and 20 human third molars were randomly divided into eight groups resulting from the combination of the main factors surface treatment (none, two-minute EDTA conditioning manual application, 30-second EDTA manual application, 30-second EDTA sonic application) and adhesives systems (Scotchbond Universal Adhesive [SBU] and Prime & Bond Elect [PBE]). Resin-dentin and enamel-dentin bond specimens were prepared and tested under the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) and microshear bond strength (μSBS) tests, respectively. The etching pattern produced on the unground enamel and the sclerotic dentin surfaces under the different protocols and adhesive systems was evaluated under scanning electron microscopy. Results: For enamel, only the main factor adhesive was significant (p&lt;0.0001), with SBU showing the highest μSBS. In sclerotic dentin, the lowest mean was observed for the group without EDTA application and the highest mean in the group with EDTA application with the sonic device for 30 seconds. Regardless of the EDTA protocol, the highest means of μTBS were observed for SBU (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: EDTA conditioning improves the bonding performance of universal adhesives in the self-etch mode on sclerotic dentin, mainly when applied for 30 seconds with the aid of a sonic device. EDTA pretreatment also improves the retentive etching pattern of enamel, but it does not result in higher enamel bond strength.

Influence of Conditioning Time of Universal Adhesives on Adhesive Properties and Enamel-Etching Pattern

SUMMARY Objectives: To evaluate the effect of application protocol in resin–enamel microshear bond strength (μSBS), in situ degree of conversion, and etching pattern of three universal adhesive systems. Methods and Materials: Sixty-three extracted third molars were sectioned in four parts (buccal, lingual, and proximals) and divided into nine groups, according to the combination of the main factors—Adhesive (Clearfil Universal, Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc, Tokyo, Japan; Futurabond U, VOCO, Cuxhaven, Germany; and Scotchbond Universal Adhesive, 3M ESPE, St Paul, MN, USA)—and enamel treatment/application time (etch-and-rinse mode [ER], self-etch [SE] application for 20 seconds [SE20], and SE application for 40 seconds [SE40]). Specimens were stored in water (37°C/24 h) and tested at 1.0 mm/min (μSBS). The degree of conversion of the adhesives at the resin–enamel interfaces was evaluated using micro-Raman spectroscopy. The enamel-etching pattern was evaluated under a scanning electron microscope. Data were analyzed with two-way analysis of variance and Tukey test (α=0.05). Results: In general, the application of the universal adhesives in the SE40 produced μSBS and degree of conversion that were higher than in the SE20 (p&lt;0.01) and similar to the ER mode. The deepest enamel-etching pattern was obtained in the ER mode, followed by the SE40. Conclusions: The active and prolonged application of universal adhesives in the SE mode may be a viable alternative to increase the degree of conversion, etching pattern, and resin–enamel bond strength.