Improving early running-in wear characteristics for dental lithium disilicate glass-ceramics by ion-exchange

T J Men; Z G Chai; X C Li; D Li; F Wang; L He; S F Zhang; M Meng

doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.105037

Improving early running-in wear characteristics for dental lithium disilicate glass-ceramics by ion-exchange

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2022 Feb:126:105037. doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.105037. Epub 2021 Dec 10.

Authors

T J Men¹, Z G Chai², X C Li³, D Li⁴, F Wang¹, L He⁵, S F Zhang⁶, M Meng⁷

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Prosthodontics, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
² UB-Care Dental Clinic of Xian Beilin, Xi'an, 710032, China.
³ Northwest Institute for Non-ferrous Metal Research, Xi'an, 710016, China.
⁴ School of Science, Xi'an University of Posts and Telecommunications, Xi'an, 710121, China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China. Electronic address: helin@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Prosthodontics, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China. Electronic address: sfzhang@fmmu.edu.cn.
⁷ State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Prosthodontics, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China. Electronic address: sunday19870430@126.com.

PMID: 34906862
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.105037

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the effects of Li⁺→Na⁺ ion-exchange on the early wear performance of dental lithium disilicate (LD) glass-ceramics.

Methods: Specimens with different shapes were prepared using IPS e.max Press as the LD glass-ceramics. Ion-exchange was conducted by placing polished specimens in molten salt containing 25% NaNO₃ and 75% KNO₃ at 385 °C for 16 or 64 h. The ion-exchanged specimens were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to investigate the structure and the elemental distribution. Thereafter, the specimens were tested for flexural strength, Vickers hardness, and fracture resistance. A portion of the specimens were tested with a pin-on-disk tribometer with 10 N for 40 × 10⁴ wear cycles in artificial saliva. Wear analysis of the specimens was performed using a 3D profilometer and analyzed with one-way analyses of variance and Tukey's post hoc pairwise comparisons. Worn surfaces were examined with scanning electron microscopy.

Results: The LD glass-ceramics exhibited strong time-dependent wear behavior, with typical running-in and steady wear stages. Ion-exchange treatments at 385 °C for 16 h and 64 h both enhanced the mechanical properties and decreased the wear rates of early running-in wear stage. The early wear performance of specimens treated with ion-exchange for long time (64 h) was improved significantly.

Conclusion: A thicker ion-exchange layer may be obtained by processing ion-exchange for a long time. This protocol improves the early wear performance of the glass-ceramics effectively.

Clinical significance: Dental restorations may fail prematurely due to excessive wear. It is important to improve the early wear performance of the glass-ceramics. Ion-exchange has the potential to strengthen dental LD glass-ceramics. Understanding the effect of ion-exchange on the early wear performance of glass-ceramics provides insight improving the early wear performance of these restorations.

Keywords: Dental lithium disilicate glass-ceramic; Early wear performance; Ion-exchange.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Ceramics*
Dental Porcelain
Materials Testing
Running*
Surface Properties

Substances

lithia disilicate
Dental Porcelain