Alumina-toughened zirconia for dental applications: Physicochemical, mechanical, optical, and residual stress characterization after artificial aging

Edmara T.P. Bergamo, Karina B. Cardoso, Lucas F.O. Lino, Tiago M.B. Campos, Kelli N. Monteiro, Paulo F. Cesar, Luis A. Genova, Gilmar P. Thim, Paulo G. Coelho, Estevam A. Bonfante

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

To characterize the physicomechanical properties of an alumina-toughened zirconia (ATZ). ATZ synthesis consisted of the addition of alumina particles in an yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (3Y-TZP) matrix. Specimens were obtained by uniaxial and isostatic pressing ATZ and 3Y-TZP powders and sintering at 1600°C/1 h and 1550°C/1 h, respectively. Crystalline content and residual stress were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Microstructure was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Optical properties were determined by reflectance test. Mechanical properties were assessed by biaxial flexural strength test. All analyses were performed before and after aging (134°C, 20 h, 2 bar). XRD and SEM revealed a typical ATZ and 3Y-TZP crystalline content, chiefly tetragonal phase, with a dense polycrystalline matrix, though a smaller grain size for ATZ. Aging triggered a similar monoclinic transformation for both systems; however, ATZ exhibited higher residual compressive stresses than 3Y-TZP. While as-processed 3Y-TZP demonstrated significantly higher characteristic strength relative to ATZ, no significant difference was observed after aging (~215 MPa increase in the ATZ strength). ATZ presented significantly higher opacity relative to 3Y-TZP, although aging significantly increased the translucency of both systems (increase difference significantly higher in the 3Y-TZP compared to ATZ). ATZ physicomechanical properties support its applicability in the dental field, with a lower detrimental effect of aging relative to 3Y-TZP.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1135-1144
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Biomedical Materials Research - Part B Applied Biomaterials
Volume109
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2021

Keywords

  • aging
  • ceramic composite
  • ceramics
  • mechanical properties
  • optical properties
  • zirconia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biomaterials
  • Biomedical Engineering

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