Abstract
Objective. The aim of this study was to provide a design guideline for developing tetragonal yttria-stabilized zirconia with improved translucency. Methods. The translucency, the in-line transmission in particular, of 3 mol.% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (3Y-TZP) has been examined using the Rayleigh scattering model. The theory predicts that the in-line transmission of 3Y-TZP can be related to its thickness with grain size and birefringence the governing parameters. To achieve a threshold value of translucency, the critical grain size of 3Y-TZP was predicted for various thicknesses (0.3-2.0 mm). The threshold value was defined by a measured average in-line transmission value of a suite of dental porcelains with a common thickness of 1 mm. Our theoretical predictions were calibrated with one of the very few experimental data available in the literature. Results. For a dense, high-purity zirconia, its in-line transmission increased with decreasing grain size and thickness. To achieve a translucency similar to that of dental porcelains, a nanocyrstalline 3Y-TZP structure was necessitated, due primarily to its large birefringenceand high refractive index. Such a grain size dependence became more pronounced as the 3Y-TZP thickness increased. For example, at a thickness of 1.3 mm, the mean grain size of a translucent 3Y-TZP should be 82 nm. At 1.5 mm and 2 mm thicknesses, the mean grain size needed to be 77 nm and 70 nm, respectively. Significance. A promising future for zirconia restorations, with combined translucency and mechanical properties, can be realized by reducing its grain size.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1195-1203 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Dental Materials |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2014 |
Keywords
- Grain size
- Light scattering
- Microstructure
- Optical birefringence
- Translucency
- Zirconia (Y-TZP)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Materials Science
- General Dentistry
- Mechanics of Materials