OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of a new engineering technique of vacuum deposition-plasma magnetron reactive sputter deposition technique on the metal-porcelain bond strength of a new type of Co-Cr ceramic and framework dental alloy.

METHODSBefore porcelain painted on the specimens, the standardized metal strips made from DA9-4 dental alloy were coated with a thin Al2O3 ceramic film by plasma magnetron reactive sputter deposition technique. The conformation, structure and thickness of the ceramic film were analyzed. The specimens for three-point bending test made from DA9-4 alloy and VMK95 porcelain were used for metal-porcelain bond strength measurement, in the same time the interface of metal-porcelain and element distribution were also observed.

RESULTSThe flexural bonding strength of metal-porcelain of sputtering group and control group were (180.55+/-16.45) MPa and (143.80+/-24.49) MPa. The flexural bonding strength of metal-porcelain of sputtering group was higher than control group significantly through statistical analysis (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe plasma magnetron reactive sputter deposition technique has a positive effect in improving the bonding strength of DA9-4 dental alloy and ceramic.