Effect of nonthermal argon plasma treatment on the surface properties and phase transformation of zirconia

PURPOSE

This study aims to evaluate the effect of applying different parameters of nonthermal argon plasma (NTAP) on the surface roughness and phase transformation of yttrium-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP) ceramics.

METHODS

A total of 60 zirconia samples were prepared and randomly divided into six groups according to their surface treatments (n = 10). Group 1: control group; Group 2: argon plasma with a flow rate of 5 lt/min for 4 min; Group 3: 8 lt/min for 4 min; Group 4: 8 lt/min for 2 min; Group 5: 5 l/min for 2 min; Group 6: air abrasion with Al2O3 particle. The surface roughness was measured with a profilometer, and surface topography was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was performed to investigate the phase transformation.

RESULTS

The air abrasion group showed the highest surface roughness. The lowest relative monoclinic phase amount (Xm) was observed in the control group (0.4%), and the highest Xm value was observed in group 6 (7.8%).

CONCLUSION

While the air abrasion group showed the highest average surface roughness, it also caused the highest phase transformation. With a flow rate of 8 lt/min for 2 min NTAP treatment increased the surface roughness without causing significant phase transformation.

Y-TZP Physicochemical Properties Conditioned with ZrO2 and SiO2 Nanofilms and Bond Strength to Dual Resin Cement

Commercial Yttria-tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP) was subjected to surface treatments, and the bond strength of dual resin cement to Y-TZP and failure modes were evaluated. Disks (12 mm × 2 mm), cylinders (7 mm × 3.3 mm), and bars (25 mm × 5 mm × 2 mm) were milled from Y-TZP CAD-CAM blocks, divided into seven groups, and subjected to different surface treatments; silicatization was used as control. On the basis of the literature, this study evaluated modifications with films containing SiO2 nanoparticles and silane; SiO2+ZrO2—SiO2 (50%) and ZrO2 (50%) nanoparticles, SiO2+ZrO2/Silane-SiO2 (50%) and ZrO2 (50%) nanoparticles, and silane. Specimens were analyzed by wettability (n = 3), surface free energy (n = 3), X-ray diffraction (n = 1), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) (n = 1), roughness (n = 5), shear bond test (n = 10), and dynamic modulus (n = 3). Specimens treated with hydrofluoric acid—HF 40% presented significantly higher contact angle and lowest surface free energy (p < 0.05). The SiO2/Silane presented crystalline SiO2 on the surface. The surface roughness was significantly higher for groups treated with nanofilms (p < 0.05). Shear bond strength was significantly higher for silicatization, HF 40%/silicatization, SiO2/Silane, and SiO2+ZrO2/Silane groups. The proposed treatments with nanofilms had potentially good results without prejudice to the physicochemical characteristics of zirconia. Generally, groups that underwent silica surface deposition and silanization had better bond strength (p < 0.005).

Repair bond strength of composite to Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiated zirconia and porcelain surfaces

BACKGROUND

Fracture or chipping are major concerning failures of an all-ceramic restoration. Repairing of the failure restoration using intra-oral technique is time saving and cost effective treatment modality. The present study was proposed to evaluate effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation on shear bond strength between zirconia/porcelain and composite resin.

METHODS

Thirty zirconia and thirty zirconia based porcelain disc shape specimens were prepared. Three different surface treatment procedure were applied the specimens. For control groups (Group ZC and PC), instruction manual of an intra-oral porcelain repair system was followed. Different pulse rates of Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation (short and long pulses) were applied to zirconia and porcelain surfaces for other groups (Group ZS, ZL, PS, and PL). Porcelain repair kit was used to repair specimens using standard cylindrical teflon mold (2 × 2 mm). Repair bond strength of the repaired specimens was tested using a universal testing machine.

RESULTS

Highest mean bond strength value was observed at Group PC that was significantly higher than laser applied porcelain groups. Long pulse laser irradiation illustrated that increased mean bond strength compared to short pulse application on to the porcelain surface. Laser applied zirconia groups showed better mean bond strength than Group ZC, but differences between the groups were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Different modes of Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation enhanced repair bond strength of the composite resin to zirconia, but these were not significant. Following the instruction manual for surface treatment on the porcelain surface was better method than Er,Cr:YSGG laser surface conditioning.

Repair bond strength of composite resin to sandblasted and laser irradiated Y-TZP ceramic surfaces

This study investigated the effects of different surface treatments on the repair bond strength of yttrium-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline ceramic (Y-TZP) zirconia to a composite resin. Sixty Y-TZP zirconia specimens were prepared and randomly divided into six groups (n = 10) as follows: Group 1, surface grinding with Cimara grinding bur (control); Group 2, sandblasted with 30 µm silica-coated alumina particles; Group 3, Nd:YAG laser irradiation; Group 4, Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation; Group 5, sandblasted + Nd:YAG laser irradiation; and Group 6, sandblasted + Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation. After surface treatments, the Cimara(®) System was selected for the repair method and applied to all specimens. A composite resin was built-up on each zirconia surface using a cylindrical mold (5 × 3 mm) and incrementally filled. The repair bond strength was measured with a universal test machine. Data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and a Tukey HSD test (p = 0.05). Surface topography after treatments were evaluated by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Shear bond strength mean values ranged from 15.896 to 18.875 MPa. There was a statistically significant difference between group 3 and the control group (p < 0.05). Also, a significant increase in bond strength values was noted in group 6 (p < 0.05). All surface treatment methods enhanced the repair bond strength of the composite to zirconia; however, there were no significant differences between treatment methods. The results revealed that Nd:YAG laser irradiation along with the combination of sandblasting and Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation provided a significant increase in bond strength between the zirconia and composite resin.

Influence of peak oral temperatures on veneer-core interface stress state

Objective: There is a growing interest for the use of Y-TZP zirconia as core material in veneered all-ceramic prostheses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of CET on the stress distribution of a porcelain layered to zirconia core single crowns by finite elements analysis.

Material and methods: CET of eight different porcelains was considered during the analysis.

Results: Results of this study indicated that the mismatch in CET between the veneering porcelain and the Y-TZP zirconia core has to be minimum (0.5–1 μm/mK) so as to decrease the growing of residual stresses which could bring chipping.

Conclusions: The stress state due to temperature variation should be carefully taken into consideration while studying the effect of mechanical load on zirconia core crown by FEA. The interfacial stress state can be increased by temperature variation up to 20% with respect to the relative failure parameter (interface strength in this case). This means that stress due to mechanical load combined to temperature variation-induced stress can lead porcelain veneer–zirconia core interfaces to failure.

Evaluation of shear bond strength between dual cure resin cement and zirconia ceramic after thermocycling treatment

PURPOSE

This study was performed to evaluate shear bond strength (SBS) between three dual-cured resin cements and silica coated zirconia, before and after thermocycling treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty specimens were cut in 15 × 2.75 mm discs using zirconia. After air blasting of 50 µm alumina, samples were prepared by tribochemical silica coating with Rocatec™ plus. The specimens were divided into three groups according to the dual-cure resin cement used: (1) Calibra silane+Calibra®, (2) Monobond S+Multilink® N and (3) ESPN sil+RelyX™ Unicem Clicker. After the resin cement was bonded to the zirconia using a Teflon mold, photopolymerization was carried out. Only 10 specimens in each group were thermocycled 6,000 times. Depending on thermocycling treatment, each group was divided into two subgroups (n=10) and SBS was measured by applying force at the speed of 1 mm/min using a universal testing machine. To find out the differences in SBS according to the types of cements and thermocycling using the SPSS, two-way ANOVA was conducted and post-hoc analysis was performed by Turkey's test.

RESULTS

In non-thermal aged groups, SBS of Multilink group (M1) was higher than that of Calibra (C1) and Unicem (U1) group (P<.05). Moreover, even after thermocycling treatment, SBS of Multilink group (M2) was higher than the other groups (C2 and U2). All three cements showed lower SBS after the thermocycling than before the treatments. But Multilink and Unicem had a significant difference (P<.05).

CONCLUSION

In this experiment, Multilink showed the highest SBS before and after thermocycling. Also, bond strengths of all three cements decreased after thermocycling.

Evaluation of the surface roughness of zirconia ceramics after different surface treatments

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different mechanical surface treatments of pre-sintered zirconium oxide (ZrO2) in an attempt to improve its bonding potential.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and twenty IPS e-max ZirCAD (Ivoclar Vivadent) pre-sintered zirconia blocks (7 mm diameter, 3 mm height) received six different surface treatments (n = 20): Group C was untreated (control); Group E was Er:YAG laser irradiated; Group N was Nd:YAG laser irradiated; Group SB was sandblasted, Group SN was sandblasted and Nd:YAG laser irradiated; and Group SE was sandblasted and Er:YAG laser irradiated. After the surface treatments, the average surface roughness (Ra, µm) of each specimen was determined with a profilometer, then all the specimens were sintered. The surface roughness values were analysed through one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test. Changes in the morphological characteristics of ZrO2 were examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

RESULTS

Sintered sandblasted, Er:YAG laser treatment, sandblasted + Er:YAG laser and sandblasted + Nd:YAG laser irradiation resulted in a rougher surface than the other treatments.

CONCLUSION

Nd:YAG laser irradiation alone was not effective in altering the zirconia surface morphology.