PURPOSE: Fabrication of zirconia restorations with ideal mechanical properties in a short period is a great challenge for clinicians. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of heating rate on the mechanical and microstructural properties of monolithic zirconia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty monolithic zirconia specimens were prepared from presintered monolithic zirconia blanks. All specimens were then assigned to 4 groups according to heating rate as Control, Group 15℃, Group 20℃, and Group 40℃. All groups were sintered according to heating rates with the sintering temperature of 1500℃, a holding time of 90 minutes and natural cooling. The phase composition was examined by XRD analysis, three-point bending test was conducted to examine the flexural strength, and Weibull analysis was conducted to determine weibull modulus and characteristic strength. Average grain sizes were determined by SEM analysis. One-way ANOVA test was performed at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: Only tetragonal phase characteristic peaks were determined on the surface of analyzed specimens. Differences among the average grain sizes of the groups were not statistically significant. The results of the three-point bending test revealed no significant differences among the flexural strength of the groups (P>.05). Weibull modulus of groups was ranging from 3.50 to 4.74. The highest and the lowest characteristic strength values were obtained in Group 20℃ and Control Group, respectively. CONCLUSION: Heating rate has no significant effect on the flexural strength of monolithic zirconia. Monolithic zirconia restorations can be produced in shorter sintering periods without affecting the flexural strength by modifying the heating rate.
Heating ; Hot Temperature

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) of an indirect resin composite (IRC) to the various resin matrix ceramic (RMC) blocks using different surface treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-nine cubic RMC specimens consisting of a resin nanoceramic (RNC), a polymer-infiltrated hybrid ceramic (PIHC), and a flexible hybrid ceramic (FHC) were divided randomly into three surface treatment subgroups (n = 11). In the experimental groups, untreated (Cnt), tribochemical silica coating (Tbc), and Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser irradiation (Lsr) with 3 W (150 mJ/pulse, 20 Hz for 20 sec.) were used as surface treatments. An indirect composite resin (IRC) was layered with a disc-shape mold (2 × 3 mm) onto the treated-ceramic surfaces and the specimens submitted to thermal cycling (6000 cycles, 5 – 55℃). The SBS test of specimens was performed using a universal testing machine and the specimens were examined with a scanning electron microscope to determine the failure mode. Data were statistically analyzed with two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey HSD test (α=.05). RESULTS: According to the two-way ANOVA, only the surface treatment parameter was statistically significant (P<.05) on the SBS of IRC to RMC. The SBS values of Lsr-applied RMC groups were significantly higher than Cnt groups for each RMC material, (P<.05). Significant differences were also determined between Tbc surface treatment applied and untreated (Cnt) PIHC materials (P=.039). CONCLUSION: For promoting a reliable bond strength during characterization of RMC with IRC, Nd:YAG laser or Tbc surface treatment technique should be used, putting in consideration the microstructure and composition of RMC materials and appropriate parameters for each material.
Aluminum ; Ceramics ; Composite Resins ; Fungi ; Shear Strength ; Silicon Dioxide ; Yttrium