Impact of varying step-stress protocols on the fatigue behavior of 3Y-TZP, 4Y-TZP and 5Y-TZP ceramic.

OBJECTIVE: To test the impact of three varying step-stress protocols on the fatigue behavior of two 3Y-TZP, one 4Y-TZP and one 5Y-TZP zirconia materials. METHODS: Eight specimens per zirconia material (N = 32) were selected for static testing to determine the start load for dynamic tests (30% of the mean value of static fracture load). 45 specimens per material (N = 180) were used for dynamic load tests using three step-stress protocols: 1. 50 N/5000 cycles; 2. 5% of static load/5000 cycles, and 3. 10 N/1000 cycles. Following materials were tested: 3Y-TZP(<0.25 Al2O3) (O: opaque) 3Y-TZP(<0.05 Al2O3) (T: translucent), 4Y-TZP(<0.01 Al2O3) (ET: extra translucent) and 5Y-TZP(<0.01 Al2O3) (HT: high translucent). The specimens (4 ± 0.02 × 3 ± 0.02 × 45 mm) were placed centrally on the support rolls and the load was applied perpendicularly over the 4 mm specimen side (∼4-point flexural strength according to the DIN 6872:2019). Data was analyzed with Kolmogorov-Smirnov-test, t-test, one-way ANOVA with post-hoc Scheffé-test, Chi-square-test, Kaplan-Meier with Log-Rank-test and two-parametric Weibull analysis (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The step-stress protocols showed no impact on the fracture load or Weibull modulus within one zirconia material. However, the zirconia materials T, ET and HT showed differences in cycle number to fracture between the step-stress protocols (T: 3 > 2 > 1; ET: 2 > 3 > 1; HT: 2, 3 > 1) with lowest cycle number to fracture for protocol 1. Within one step-stress protocol, the cycle number to fracture varied according to the zirconia material as follows: 1: T, O ≥ O, ET > HT; 2: ET > O, T, HT; 3: O, T, ET > HT. Cracking started at the tensile side of the specimens at all times. All specimens showed typical compression curls (single or double). Fragmentation patterns were similar for all materials with a lot of crack branching and fragmentation due to secondary cracks indicating high energy fractures. SIGNIFICANCE: Dynamic fatigue tests seem to provide important information on the long-term stability of zirconia materials. Zirconia materials with higher opacity seem to be more robust towards varying step-stress protocols than translucent zirconia materials. Regarding expenditure of time, a step-stress protocol with a load increase of 50 N every 5000 cycles seems favorable to gain information on the long-term stability of zirconia materials.

Evaluation of translucency, Marten's hardness, biaxial flexural strength and fracture toughness of 3Y-TZP, 4Y-TZP and 5Y-TZP materials.

OBJECTIVES: Testing and comparing of different non-shaded zirconia materials (3Y-TZP, 4Y-TZP and 5Y-TZP) on optical and mechanical properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Zirconia materials (N = 320, Opaque O, Translucent T, Extra Translucent ET, High Translucent HT) were investigated on translucency, Martens parameter, biaxial flexural strength, Chevron-Notch-Beam (CNB) fracture toughness (KIC) and grain size. The grain size was analyzed using a scanning electron microcopy (SEM). Univariate ANOVA, post-hoc Scheffé, partial eta-squared, Kolmogorov-Smirnov-, Kruskal-Wallis- and Mann-Whitney-U-tests (p < 0.05) were performed. The reliability of flexural strength was calculated with two-parametric Weibull analysis and 95 % confidence level. RESULTS: The translucency of ET and HT increased with the thermo-mechanical aging (p < 0.001). The zirconia material and aging had no impact on the Martens hardness and the indentation modulus. ET showed the highest flexural strength values after initial and thermo-mechanical aging (p < 0.001 - 0.683). All four materials showed the highest flexural strength after thermo-mechanical aging after 1.2 Mio cycles. Thermo-mechanically (1.2 Mio cycles) aged HT presented the highest Weibull modulus (m = 15.0) regardless of aging. Within initial groups, T (p ≤ 0.001) showed the highest fracture toughness, followed by O (p ≤ 0.001), ET (p < 0.003) and HT (p ≤ 0.001). SIGNIFICANCE: Translucency of ET and HT increases with thermo-mechanical aging. Chevron-Notch-Beam (CNB) is a valid alternative to the single-edge-V-notched beam (SEVNB) method for testing fracture toughness.

Effect of high-speed sintering on the flexural strength of hydrothermal and thermo-mechanically aged zirconia materials.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of high-speed and conventional sintering on the flexural strength (FS) of three zirconia materials initial and after artificial aging. METHODS: Milled zirconia specimens (3Y-TZP: ZI and Zolid; 4Y-TZP: Zolid HT+; Amann Girrbach AG; N = 288, n = 96/group) were sintered in a high-speed sintering protocol (final temperature 1580 °C, n = 48/subgroup) or a conventional sintering protocol (control group, final temperature 1450 °C, n = 48/subgroup). FS was tested initially and after artificial aging (10 h in an autoclave or 1,200,000 chewing cycles; n = 16/subgroup). Univariate ANOVAs, post-hoc Scheffé, partial eta-squared, Kolmogorov-Smirnov-, Kruskal-Wallis- and Mann-Whitney-U-test were performed (p < 0.05). RESULTS: ZI showed the highest and HT+ the lowest FS, regardless of the sintering protocols and aging regimens (p < 0.001). High-speed sintered HT+ showed higher initial FS than the control group (p < 0.001). ZI (p < 0.001-0.004) and Zolid (p < 0.001-0.007) showed higher FS after thermo-mechanical aging. High-speed sintered HT+ showed higher FS in the initial stage (p < 0.001). The Weibull modulus of the three thermo-mechanically aged materials was negatively influenced by high-speed sintering. SIGNIFICANCE: As shorter sintering times represent a cost and time efficient alternative, high-speed sintering is a valid alternative to conventional sintering protocols.

Impact of high-speed sintering, layer thickness and artificial aging on the fracture load and two-body wear of zirconia crowns.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of high-speed sintering, layer thickness and artificial aging in a chewing simulator on the fracture load (FL) and two-body wear (2BW) of 4Y-TZP crowns. METHODS: 4Y-TZP crowns (Ceramill Zolid HT+, Amann Girrbach AG) in three different layer thicknesses (0.5, 1.0, 1.5; N=192, n=64/group) were manufactured using CAD/CAM technology and sintered at 1580°C (high-speed sintering) or 1450°C (control group). Specimens were polished in two-steps and bonded to standardized CoCr abutments with Multilink Automix (Ivoclar Vivadent). 2BW after 6000 thermo- and 1,200,000 chewing-cycles employing enamel antagonists was determined using best fit machining. FL was tested before and after artificial aging. Univariate ANOVAs, post hoc Scheffé, unpaired t-, Kruskal-Wallis- and Mann-Whitney-U-test were computed (p<0.05). RESULTS: High-speed sintering resulted in less 2BW of the zirconia than the control group (p=0.013). High-speed sintering (p=0.001-0.006) and an increase in layer thickness (p<0.001-0.012) resulted in higher FL values, while artificial aging led to a reduction of FL (p<0.001). SIGNIFICANCE: As high-speed sintering resulted in less two-body wear of the zirconia and comparable or even higher fracture load results than the control group, this cost- and time efficient alternative presents promising mechanical results.

Translucency, flexural strength, fracture toughness, fracture load of 3-unit FDPs, Martens hardness parameter and grain size of 3Y-TZP materials.

OBJECTIVE: This investigation tested pre-shaded 3Y-TZP materials on optical, mechanical and structural properties and calculated correlations between these properties. METHODS: Seven A2-shaded 3Y-TZP zirconia materials were investigated on translucency (T) via UV-vis-spectrophotometer, fracture load of 3-unit FDPs (FL), biaxial flexural strength (FS), Chevron-Notch Beam (CNB), fracture toughness (KIC) and Martens parameter (hardness: HM and indentation modulus: EIT). FL, FS and KIC were measured in a universal testing machine. The grain size was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Scheffé, Kruskal-Wallis-, Mann-Whitney-U- and Pearson-test (p<0.05). RESULTS: For translucency, negative correlations were found with results of facture load (R=-0.444, p<0.001) and KIC (R=-0.503, p<0.001). While a positive correlation was found between translucency and flexural strength (R=0.238, p=0.019), between fracture load and EIT (R=0.227, p<0.029), between fracture load and KIC (R=0.362, p<0.001) as well as between fracture load and the grain size (R=0.598, p=0.007). While the grain size positively correlated with EIT (R=0.534, p=0.017) as well as EIT with HM (R=0.720, p<0.001). SIGNIFICANCE: Despite of being based on the same raw material, tested zirconia materials significantly differed regarding optical, mechanical (except biaxial flexural strength and Martens hardness) and structural properties. Materials with highest optical properties were those with lowest mechanical properties (CER, COP).