Water-enhanced crystallization of leucite in dental porcelain

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether long-term exposure of dental porcelain to saliva during temporary cementation of a porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) restoration could enhance leucite crystallization if the restoration is refired. Such water-enhanced leucite crystallization in dental porcelains could lead to porcelain-metal thermal incompatibility problems. METHODS: Six commercial dental body porcelains and the Component No. 1 (leucite-containing) frit of the Weinstein et al. [13] patent were studied. For each porcelain, 30 coupon specimens were randomly assigned to a treatment group. Ten specimens were placed in artificial saliva, 10 in distilled water, and 10 in a desiccator and were stored for six months. At the end of the six months, an additional 10 coupons of each porcelain were prepared to serve as a control. All 40 specimens of each porcelain were randomized and subjected to one additional firing. Leucite weight fraction was determined by quantitative X-ray powder diffraction analysis via an internal standard technique. RESULTS: Comparisons among the treatments via the least-squares-means test-adjusting for porcelain showed that the saliva group mean leucite weight fraction was significantly higher than that of the other groups. The change in porcelain thermal expansion that would be associated with a leucite change in this range would be between 0.2 x 10(-6) K-1 and 0.3 x 10(-6) K-1. SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this work constitute the first demonstration that moisture absorbed by a porcelain can act as a glass modifier and enhance the crystallization of the glass during subsequent firing. The effect was sufficiently large to generate thermal expansion changes that would exceed the maximum safe mismatch between porcelain and metal.     

Effects of local cooling rate and processing variables on leucite in dental porcelain

PURPOSE: This research determined whether there is a measurable effect of local geometry factors on leucite content of dental porcelain in fixed partial dentures (FPD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four-unit FPD frameworks (n = 36) were fabricated using a nickel-chromium alloy (Rexillium III). Body porcelain (Crystar, shade A2) was applied in one increment and subjected to two simulated body firings, followed by a simulated glaze firing to achieve a thickness of 1.5 to 2.0 mm. The completed FPD specimens were randomly assigned to three groups of 12 specimens each: (1) simulated post-soldering, (2) multiple firing, and (3) control. The FPDs from each test group were sectioned into individual units: canine retainer, premolar pontic, molar pontic, and molar retainer. The porcelain was removed from each unit, and the leucite content was measured via quantitative x-ray diffraction. RESULTS: Porcelain cracking indicated that the soldering simulation had successfully reproduced conditions in the dental laboratory that result in porcelain cracking during soldering. The leucite content was not significantly different between the retainer and pontic units for either the soldering simulation or control FPDs, although the canine retainer units did have a slightly lower leucite content than the pooled values of the other units. Comparison of the pooled data for the three groups indicated statistically significant differences among the leucite contents. CONCLUSION: Compared to the control, the simulated post-soldering procedure produced a significant increase in leucite, and the multiple firing group exhibited a significant decrease in leucite. Increases in leucite weight fraction during post-soldering operations-and the larger thermally induced stresses that accompany these leucite increases-are responsible for the cracking that occurs.     

Stress induced phase transformation of a cesium stabilized leucite porcelain and associated properties.

OBJECTIVES: The addition of CS2O to dental porcelains might provide a means for controlling the thermal expansion and toughness of feldspathic porcelains. The purpose of this investigation was to determine for a leucite porcelain the effect of CS2O content upon its coefficient of thermal expansion (alpha), toughness, hardness, and content of low (tetragonal) leucite and high (cubic) leucite. METHODS: In order to determine the amount of low leucite in the specimens, an x-ray calibration curve for low leucite and an internal standard of copper was obtained using quantitative x-ray diffraction techniques. Utilizing a stress induced phase transformation between low and high leucite, an x-ray intensity conversion ratio (r) was determined for high leucite so that the calibration curve for low leucite could be used to determine the amount of high leucite present in the experimental porcelains. Specimens were prepared with various amounts of CS2O (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 mol%) so that, except for the as-received porcelain (A), all had the same thermal history. Specimens were tested for content of low and high leucite, hardness (Vickers), toughness (indentation-strength method), and coefficient of thermal expansion (alpha) over two temperature ranges (30-500 degrees C and 30-640 degrees C). Fractured surfaces were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). For each property, specimen groups were compared for statistical differences. These comparisons were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Fisher's protected least significant differences (PLSD). RESULTS: Quantitative x-ray examination of abraded and heat-treated specimens demonstrated that a stress induced phase transformation occurred which could be reversed by heat treatment. The conversion ratio was determined as r = 1.93 +/- 0.29. The addition of CS2O lowered the wt% of low leucite from 63 +/- 6% to 0% and increased the amount of high leucite from 0% to 62 +/- 5%. ANOVA showed that the addition of CS2O had a significant effect on alpha (p < 0.0001), hardness (p < 0.005), and toughness (p < 0.0001). CS2O significantly (PLSD) lowered the alpha (p < 0.0001), hardness (p < 0.01), and toughness (p < 0.0001) of a high-content leucite porcelain. SIGNIFICANCE: A stress induced phase transformation of high leucite to low leucite was demonstrated and, as a consequence, suggested the potential for phase transformation toughening. The alpha of a leucite porcelain could be controlled by stabilizing high (cubic) leucite to room temperature with the fraction of high leucite dependent upon the amount of CS2O added. A method was developed to determine the amount of high leucite present in a porcelain.     

Creep functions of dental ceramics measured in a beam-bending viscometer.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the high temperature viscoelastic properties of several dental ceramics by the determination of creep functions based on mid-span deflections measured in a beam-bending viscometer (BBV). METHODS: Six groups of beam specimens (58 x 5.5 x 2.5 mm) were made from the following materials: (1) IPS Empress2 body--a glass veneer ceramic (E2V); (2) an experimental glass veneer (EXV); (3) Vita VMK 68 feldspathic body porcelain--a low-expansion body porcelain (VB); (4) Will-Ceram feldspathic body porcelain--a high-expansion body porcelain (WCB); (5) Vita feldspathic opaque porcelain--a medium-expansion opaque porcelain (VO); and (6) Will-Ceram feldspathic opaque porcelain--a high-expansion opaque porcelain (WCO). Midpoint deflections for each specimen were measured in a BBV under isothermal conditions at furnace temperatures ranging from 450 to 675 degrees C. Non-linear regression and linear regression analyses were used to determine creep functions and shear viscosities, respectively, for each material at each temperature. RESULTS: The shear viscosities of each group of dental ceramics exhibited bilinear Arrhenius behavior with the slope ratios (x) ranging from 0.19 for WCB to 0.71 for EXV. At the higher temperature ranges, activation energies ranged from 363 kJ/mol for VO to 386 kJ/mol for E2V. SIGNIFICANCE: The viscoelastic properties of dental ceramics at high temperatures are important factors in understanding how residual stresses develop in all-ceramic and metal-ceramic dental restorations.     

Evidence of a critical leucite particle size for microcracking in dental porcelains

The leucite particles in dental porcelains are often partially encircled by microcracks that are the result of the thermal expansion mismatch between leucite and the surrounding glass matrix. Although the magnitude of the stress at the particle-matrix interface is independent of the particle size (Selsing, 1961), Davidge and Green (1968) showed experimentally that there is a critical particle size below which microcracking is absent. The critical particle size is explained by a Griffith-type energy balance criterion: Below the critical size, the stress magnitude may be sufficient to cause cracking, but there is insufficient strain energy for the creation of the new surfaces of the microcrack. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the mean leucite particle size of a dental porcelain influences the degree of microcracking in the porcelain. Microcrack density, leucite particle surface area per unit volume, and leucite mean volume-surface diameter, D3,2, were determined by quantitative stereology on 10 specimens each of 6 dental porcelains and Component No. 1 of the Weinstein et al. patent (US Patent 3,052,982, 1962). The fraction of leucite particles with microcracks around them, f(mc), was estimated for each porcelain from the microcrack density and the leucite surface area. Using the equations of Selsing (1961) and Davidge and Green (1968), we calculated the critical particle diameter, Dc, for leucite to be 4 microm. The porcelains were partitioned according to whether their mean leucite particle diameters, D3,2, fell above or below Dc, and their values of f(mc) were analyzed by a permutation test with random re-sampling. The porcelains with mean leucite particle diameters below Dc had a significantly lower fraction of cracked particles compared with the porcelains with mean leucite particle diameters above Dc (p < 0.05). This study provides evidence that microcracking in dental porcelain can be minimized by a reduction of the mean leucite particle diameter to less than 4 microm.     

Oxide adherence and porcelain bonding to titanium and Ti-6Al-4V alloy

The bonding of an experimental low-fusing porcelain to titanium and Ti-6Al-4V was evaluated by an x-ray spectrometric technique that measures the area that remains covered with porcelain following a controlled deformation of the metallic substrate. Oxide adherence strength values for titanium and Ti-6Al-4V oxidized at 750 degrees and 1000 degrees C were measured in tension with use of high-strength adhesives. The effect of further oxidation that would occur during porcelain firing was evaluated via simulated porcelain firings without actual porcelain application. Interface cross-sections of the titanium-porcelain and Ti-6Al-4V-porcelain bonds were examined in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The porcelain was found to delaminate completely from the metal substrate, leaving less than 1% of the surface covered with porcelain. The oxide adherence of the specimens oxidized at 750 degrees C was good, but those oxidized at 1000 degrees C exhibited significantly lower oxide adherence (p = 0.001). The simulated porcelain-firing oxidation treatments also produced a significant decrease in oxide adherence (p = 0.004). The 750 degrees C oxidation treatments produced oxide films too thin to be visualized in the SEM, whereas the 1000 degrees C oxidation treatments produced oxide films approximately 1 micron thick. The lower oxide adherence of the 1-micron-thick oxide films is consistent with reports in the titanium literature of oxide delamination when the oxide film reaches 1 micron in thickness.     

白榴石微晶化增强牙科玻璃陶瓷的热处理温度制度的研究

目的 探索白榴石微晶化的热处理温度制度。方法 根据白榴石的化学式和K20-Na2O-Al2O3-SiO2系统相图制定原材料配比，在预设的熔融、成核、析晶温度中选择最佳温度；利用偏振光显微镜和x射线衍射分析仪观察样品的形态及显微结构特性。结果 玻璃融熔温度为1600℃，成核温度为1200℃，晶化温度为1500℃；微晶化后的自榴石晶粒约0．8μm，在玻璃基质中分布均匀。结论 按照一定的热处理温度制度。白榴石可以在玻璃中微晶化。     

Microstructure of dental porcelains in a laser-assisted rapid prototyping process.

OBJECTIVES: The goals of this study were to investigate the phase transformation and microstructure of dental porcelain bodies densified via a moving laser beam and to develop an understanding of how the microstructure of the dental porcelain varies with the laser processing condition and the position relative to the center of the laser beam. METHODS: A moving laser beam was used to scan and densify a commercial dental porcelain powder bed. The porcelain powder compact was also sintered using a furnace at different temperatures. The phase transformation and microstructure of these dental porcelain bodies were compared and investigated using a host of analytical instruments including scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and quantitative image analysis. RESULTS: Based on the temperature dependence of the leucite content in the dental porcelain derived from the furnace-sintered samples, the temperature distribution in the dental porcelain body during laser densification was established. The microstructure of the laser-densified porcelain body was found to be dependent of the location relative to the center of the laser beam and the average laser densification temperature. SIGNIFICANCE: The understanding of how the microstructure of dental porcelain bodies varies with the laser processing condition and the location with respect to the center of the laser beam was developed. Based on this understanding, the laser processing condition has been optimized to achieve the desired microstructure and densification of dental porcelain bodies simultaneously.     

High-temperature X-ray diffraction measurement of sanidine thermal expansion

Dental porcelains that are designed to be fused to PFM (porcelain-fused-to-metal) alloys are formulated by their manufacturers to be closely matched in thermal expansion to these alloys. The high thermal expansion of the mineral leucite has been exploited to regulate porcelain expansion. Leucite, however, has been observed to convert to the sanidine polymorph of feldspar during certain heat treatments within the normal firing range of dental porcelain. The effects of this conversion on porcelain thermal expansion and porcelain-metal thermal compatibility have been uncertain, due to the paucity of published data on the thermal expansion of sanidine. The purpose of this study was to measure the thermal expansion of sanidine by high-temperature X-ray diffraction over the temperature range in which thermal mismatch stresses can develop in porcelain-fused-to-metal restorations, i.e., from room temperature to 700 degrees C. The lattice parameters a, b, c, and beta were determined from the d-spacings and hkl values of multiple reflections by means of a least-squares iteration. The dependence of each lattice parameter on temperature was determined via analysis of variance, and the coefficient of thermal expansion, alpha, was obtained from this analysis. The lattice parameters of sanidine at room temperature were determined to be: a = 0.8524 +/- 0.0015 nm, b = 1.3020 +/- 0.0004 nm, c = 0.7165 +/- 0.0002 nm, and beta = 116.02 degrees +/- 0.01 degree (mean +/- 95% confidence interval). The linear thermal expansion coefficient, a, over the range from room temperature to 700 degrees C was determined to be 4.1 x 10(-6) K(-1) +/- 0.6 x 10(6) K(-1) (mean +/- 95% confidence interval). Because the coefficient of thermal expansion for sanidine is substantially lower than that of leucite (the effective linear thermal coefficient of thermal expansion of leucite over the range of 25 degrees to 700 degrees C is 28 x 10(-6) K(-1)), the conversion of leucite to sanidine during porcelain heat treatments would produce a detrimental lowering of the porcelain thermal expansion.     

The Effect of Fatigue on the Shear Bond Strength of Resin Bonded to Porcelain

Purpose The objective of this study was to determine whether fatigue cycling affects the shear bond strength of a resin that is initially strongly bonded to porcelain. Materials and Methods Thirty-five disks of a feldspathic/leucite porcelain were fired on a phosphate-bonded investment material. Each disk was etched with hydrofluoric acid and treated with a silane solution and an adhesive. Resin cement composite cylinders were applied to the treated porcelain and light cured. All specimens were stored for 1 week in distilled water at 37°C and then thermocycled for 1000 cycles in water between 2°C and 50°C. Fifteen of the specimens were randomly selected as control specimens. The remaining were subjected to fatigue cycling. A shear load was applied parallel to the bonded surface and cycled in a square wave between 0 and 26 N at 2 Hz for 27,500 cycles. All specimens were fractured in shear at 1.27 mm/min, and the shear bond strength was determined. Results Fifteen percent of fatigued specimens and 6.7% of the control specimens showed at least partial adhesive failure. All other specimens in both groups failed cohesively in the porcelain. There was no significant difference in the mean bond strengths of the fatigued and control groups (analysis of covariance, P > .05). Conclusions For the conditions investigated, cyclic fatigue did not reduce the bond strength of this resin/porcelain system.     

Correlation between fracture toughness and leucite content in dental porcelains

OBJECTIVES: To determine the correlation between fracture toughness and leucite content in dental porcelains. The mechanisms by which leucite influences the fracture toughness of dental porcelains were also investigated. METHODS: Six porcelains were tested: A (Ceramco I/Dentsply), B (Ceramco II/Dentsitply), C (Finesse/Dentsply), D (d.Sign/Ivoclar), Cb (Cerabien/Noritake) and V (Vitadur Alpha/Vita). Bar-shaped specimens were produced, and their fracture toughness was determined by means of the single-edge precracked beam (SEPB) method. The test consisted of fracturing the specimen after a precrack was generated by a bridge-anvil device. KIc was calculated based on fracture force and size of the precrack. Microstructural analysis and determination of the leucite volume fraction were performed on polished specimens etched with 2% HF for 15s by means of scanning electron microscopy. Fractographic analysis was performed on fracture surfaces. RESULTS: Porcelains A and B presented the highest leucite contents (22%) and similar KIc values (1.23 and 1.22 MPa m1/2, respectively), significantly higher than the other materials. Porcelains C and D presented similar K(Ic) values (0.81 and 0.93 MPa m1/2, respectively), but different leucite contents (6 and 15%, respectively). Porcelain D presented higher KIc compared to porcelains Cb and V (0.71 and 0.75 MPa m1/2, respectively), which presented similar values and the lowest leucite contents (0%). Fractographic analysis showed that porcelains with higher leucite content presented higher incidence of crack deflection. CONCLUSIONS: For the materials evaluated in this study, the leucite content was directly related to KIc. The main toughening mechanism observed was crack deflection around leucite particles and clusters.     

Effects of cyclic loading on the strength of all-ceramic materials

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of fatigue on the strength of materials used in all-ceramic crowns, the biaxial flexural strength of all-ceramic restorative materials was measured with precracked and laminated specimens after cyclic loading. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two types of all-ceramic systems were used to prepare specimens: a glass-infiltrated alumina core system (In-Ceram) and a leucite-reinforced feldspathic porcelain system (IPS-Empress). Monolayer and laminated disks with a diameter of about 11.75 mm and a thickness of 1.20 +/- 0.05 mm were prepared. The biaxial flexural strength of the specimens that were polished and/or created with a precrack was measured. Their strength was also measured following cyclic loading. A cyclic load that was 60% of the mean breaking load of the specimens (before cyclic loading) was applied to specimens for 10(5) cycles in 37 degrees C water. RESULTS: Although 20% to 30% of the polished specimen samples fractured during cyclic loading, the biaxial flexural strength of specimens that survived the cyclic loading was nearly the same as that of specimens not subjected to the cyclic loading. The strength of the alumina system decreased with the introduction of precracks, and nearly all specimens fractured during cyclic loading. The strength of the leucite system, however, did not decrease with the presence of precracks, and no fractures were observed on these specimens during cyclic loading. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that although the alumina system has high flexural strength, it is more sensitive to flaws and susceptible to fatigue fracture. The effect of fatigue on the leucite system appears to be low.     

Flexural strength optimisation of a leucite reinforced glass ceramic.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to process a ceramic material with a fine leucite particle size using hot pressing techniques, to increase the flexural strength, reliability and ease of use. METHODS: A starting glass composition of wt%; 64.2% SiO(2), 16.1% Al(2)O(3), 10.9% K(2)O, 4.3% Na(2)O, 1.7% CaO, 0.5% LiO and 0.4% TiO(2) was used to produce a leucite reinforced ceramic material. Twenty-one porcelain discs were produced by sintering the ceramic frit (group 1) and sixty-three discs by heat pressing the frit (groups 2, 3 and 4). Twenty-one Empress 1 ceramic discs were also heat pressed (group 5). Disc specimens were tested using the biaxial flexure test at a crosshead speed of 0.15mm/min and the data analysed using the Scheffé F multiple comparison test and Weibull statistics. Specimens were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), secondary electron imaging and energy dispersive X-ray analysis where applicable. RESULTS: The heat pressed groups (2, 3 and 4) had higher mean biaxial flexural strengths and characteristic strength values than groups 1 and 5 (p<0.05). XRD revealed the presence of tetragonal leucite in all test groups. Fine leucite crystals, tabular platelets and minimal matrix microcracking were found in the microstructure of test groups (1-4) with a more uniform leucite distribution in the heat pressed specimen groups (2, 3 and 4), which were associated with a significant increase in the biaxial flexural strength and reliability. SIGNIFICANCE: Optimisation of the microstructure by producing a fine microstructure and controlling the distribution via the correct pressing parameters may be extremely advantageous in these systems.     

Physical properties and microstructural characterization of dental porcelains mixed with distilled water and modeling liquid.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to microstructurally characterize and to make comparisons of the physical properties of sintered dental porcelains prepared by mixing with distilled water and with their modeling liquid. METHODS: Six commercial porcelain powders: IPS Classic (Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Schaan, Liechtenstein), IPS d.SIGN (Ivoclar Vivadent AG), IPS InLine (Ivoclar Vivadent AG), Vita VMK95 (Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Sackingen, Germany), Vita OMEGA 900 (Vita) and Ceramco III (Ceramco-Dentsply, Burlington, NJ, USA) were used as starting powders. Following particle size and BET analyses of starting powders, each porcelain powder was mixed with distilled water and with its own modeling liquid. Disc specimens were sintered in accordance with each manufacturer's instructions. Specimens were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy and SEM analysis and their physical properties such as bulk density, microhardness and biaxial flexural strength were determined. RESULTS: The sintered dental porcelains premixed with modeling liquid had density, biaxial flexural strength and microhardness values slightly higher than those premixed with distilled water. Mixing with distilled water and modeling liquid caused statistically significant differences between the density values of Vita VMK 95 and microhardness values of IPS d.SIGN and IPS InLine. Characterization investigations (XRD and SEM) revealed the coexistence of the tetragonal leucite (1-3 microm) and hexagonal fluorapatite crystals (0.4-1.2 microm) in a feldspathic glassy matrix in the microstructure of IPS d.SIGN and only leucite crystals (3-6 microm) in the microstructures of other porcelains. SIGNIFICANCE: Mixing the porcelain powders with distilled water or modeling liquid prior to sintering has no effect on the resultant sintered crystalline microstructure. On the other hand, significant differences exist between the physical properties of some porcelains.     

GI-Ⅱ型着色玻璃渗透后渗透陶瓷的性能测试

目的 :探讨用GIⅡ型着色渗透玻璃渗透后的渗透陶瓷底层材料的热膨胀性能、机械力学性能和密度 ,为材料性能的改进和临床应用奠定基础。方法 :选用GIⅡ型着色渗透玻璃的IG2色玻璃料及GIⅡ型氧化铝粉体 ,制作氧化铝基体及渗透陶瓷样本 ,在TMA2940型热分析仪上绘制样本的热膨胀曲线 ,计算热膨胀系数 ;三点弯曲法测定渗透陶瓷材料的挠曲强度和弹性模量 ,显微压痕法测量断裂韧性和维氏硬度 ;重量体积法测定其密度。结果 :渗透陶瓷的热膨胀系数为 7.620×10(6)℃(-1)（2 5～ 5 0 0℃ ） ,略高于Vitaduralpha饰面瓷的热膨胀系数。材料的三点挠曲强度、弹性模量、维氏硬度、显微断裂韧性和密度分别为 389.6MPa、92GPa、9.409GPa、3.2425MNm3/2和3.662g/cm3 。结论 :用GIⅡ型着色渗透玻璃渗透后的渗透陶瓷底层材料 ,其热膨胀性能与Vitaduralpha饰面瓷匹配 ,机械强度也达到了临床应用的要求。     

Effect of cooling protocol on mechanical properties and microstructure of dental veneering ceramics

ObjectivesUnderstand how cooling protocols control the microstructure and mechanical properties of veneering porcelains.MethodsTwo porcelain powders were selected, one used to veneer metallic frameworks (VM13) and one for zirconia frameworks (VM9). After the last firing cycle, the monolithic specimens were subjected to two cooling protocols: slow and fast. Flexural strength (FS) was evaluated by three-point beam bending and fracture toughness (K_IC) was evaluated by the single-edge V-notch beam (SEVNB) method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to determine the leucite crystal volume fraction (%), particle size, and matrix microcrack density. The results were compared by analysis of variances (ANOVA) and Tukey’s multiple comparison test.ResultsThe mechanical properties were significantly (p < 0.05) higher for the VM13 porcelain (FS = 111.0 MPa, K_IC = 1.01 MPa.√m) compared to VM9 (FS = 79.6 MPa, K_IC =0.87 MPa.√m) regardless of cooling protocol due to ∼250% higher volume fraction of leucite crystals. The slow cooled VM13 and fast cooled VM9 resulted in the highest and lowest mechanical properties, respectively, while the VM9 slow cooled properties were similar to the VM13 fast cooled. The SEM revealed that the slow cooling significantly increased the volume fraction of leucite crystals by 33–41 %. Across both porcelains, a significant linear correlation between both mechanical properties (strength and toughness) and leucite crystal content was found. Slow cooling was also associated with increased crystal growth resulting in more matrix microcracking.SignificanceControlled crystallization using slow cooling can be applied as a means of strengthening dental porcelains. However, the benefits of slow cooling may be partially offset by increasing the microcrack density in the glass matrix. To achieve the maximum benefit of slow cooling, it is recommending to develop heat treatments to produce porcelain with fine-grained and homogenously dispersed leucite crystals to achieve minimal glass matrix microcracking.     

Effect of cooling rate on leucite volume fraction in dental porcelains

Prasad et al. (1988) have shown that slow cooling of dental porcelain produces increases in thermal expansion sufficient to make a compatible metal-porcelain system incompatible. The present study was undertaken to determine whether the increase in porcelain thermal expansion might be attributable to crystallization of additional leucite during slow cooling of the porcelain. Eight x-ray diffraction specimens for each of six commercial dental porcelains and for the Component No. 1 frit of the Weinstein and Weinstein (1962) and Weinstein et al. (1962) patents were fabricated and divided into two groups. Specimens in the first group (termed fast-cooled) were cooled in the conventional manner by removing them from the furnace at the maximum firing temperature immediately into room air. Specimens in the second group (termed slow-cooled) were cooled slowly by interrupting power to the furnace muffle and allowing them to cool inside the closed furnace. Quantitative x-ray diffraction was performed on the fast- and slow-cooled porcelain specimens with standards containing leucite volume fractions of 0.111, 0.223, 0.334, and 0.445. Unpaired, one-tailed t tests were performed on the fast- and slow-cool data, and a significant increase (p less than 0.05) in the amount of leucite (as a function of the slow cooling) was found for each of the porcelains. The increases in the leucite volume fractions resulting from the slow cooling ranged from a low of 8.5% to a high of 55.8%, with an average increase of 26.9%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of cooling condition on leucite crystals in dental porcelains

X-ray diffractometry (XRD) was used to analyze the crystal phases of three commercial dentin and incisal porcelains prepared by normal cooling, quenching in water, and controlled slow annealing after normal firing. There were no remarkable differences in the contents of either tetragonal and cubic leucite in the fired porcelain discs prepared under the three cooling conditions. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the parameters of the a-axis and c-axis of tetragonal leucite, and the a-axis of cubic leucite among them. These results suggest that the cooling condition has little effect on the microstructural changes of leucite crystals in the dental porcelains, since the leucite crystals were formed at a higher temperature range than the firing- and cooling-temperature range and were stabilized by incorporation of additives into the lattice.     

Influence of leucite content on slow crack growth of dental porcelains.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the stress corrosion susceptibility coefficient, n, of seven dental porcelains (A: Ceramco I; B: Ceramco-II; C: Ceramco-III; D: d.Sign; E: Cerabien; F: Vitadur-Alpha; and G: Ultropaline) after aging in air or artificial saliva, and correlate results with leucite content (LC). METHODS: Bars were fired according to manufacturers' instructions and polished before induction of cracks by a Vickers indenter (19.6N, 20s). Four specimens were stored in air/room temperature, and three in saliva/37 degrees C. Five indentations were made per specimen and crack lengths measured at the following times: approximately 0; 1; 3; 10; 30; 100; 300; 1000 and 3000 h. The stress corrosion coefficient n was calculated by linear regression analysis after plotting crack length as a function of time, considering that the slope of the curve was [2/(3n+2)]. Microstructural analysis was performed to determine LC. RESULTS: LC of the porcelains were 22% (A and B); 6% (C); 15% (D); 0% (E and F); and 13% (G). Except for porcelains A and D, all materials showed a decrease in their n values when stored in artificial saliva. However, the decrease was more pronounced for porcelains B, F, and G. Ranking of materials varied according to storage media (in air, porcelain G showed higher n compared to A, while in saliva both showed similar coefficients). No correlation was found between n values and LC in air or saliva. SIGNIFICANCE: Storage media influenced the n value obtained for most of the materials. LC did not affect resistance to slow crack growth regardless of the test environment.