Effects of tempering time on phase formation and microstructural evolution of zirconia modified-dental porcelain ceramics

Abstract

Dental porcelain ceramics reinforced with leucite nanocrystallines were successfully fabricated by using the two-step sintering technique together with some ZrO2 additive. Influence of firing conditions on leucite formation, densification and microstructural development of the sintered samples was investigated. It has been found that the choice of tempering time is one of the key factors controlling leucite crystallization on the zirconia surface in dental porcelain ceramics. The potentiality of a two-step sintering technique and Zr additive as a simple ceramic fabrication method to obtain highly dense dental porcelain ceramic-nanocomposites was demonstrated. After a two-step sintering, it was found that the microstructure was mainly composed of a dispersed dendritic leucite crystalline and a glassy matrix.