The aim of this study was to evaluate microhardness and elastic modulus of a novel sol-gel derived dental ceramic - 58S bioactive glass composite (BP67: Bioactive Glass:33.3%, Dental Ceramic:66.7%) BP671 material by micro-indentation and to investigate its microstructure and bioactivity. The research hypotheses were that the values of microhardness (1) and elastic modulus (2) of the novel bioceramic composite and the commercial dental ceramic will be of the same order. The experimental sol-gel derived ceramics showed similar microstructural characteristics to a commercial feldspathic porcelain, and presence of additional calcium phosphate phases, which contributed its bioactivity. The formation of an apatite-like layer on the materials' surface observed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR)2 spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD)3 and Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS)4 techniques after 12 days of maintenance in Conventional Simulated Body Fluid (cSBF)5 solution. The BP67 exhibited values of microhardness and modulus of elasticity which were not statistically significant different compared to dental ceramic, indicating the adequate mechanical integrity of the material. The results of this study suggest that the novel bioactive composite could be potentially applied in prosthetic dentistry, while its thermal and optical properties should be investigated in future studies.
Keywords: Bioactivity; Bioceramic composites; Elastic modulus; Knoop microhardness; Mechanical testing; Microindentation; Sol-gel synthesis.
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