Grain size, crystalline phase and fracture toughness of the monolithic zirconia

Abstract

PURPOSE. This study evaluated the relationship among translucency, crystalline phase, grain size, and fracture toughness of zirconia. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Four commercial zirconia - Prettau®Anterior® (PA), Prettau® (P), InCorisZI (ZI), and InCorisTZI (TZI)- were selected for this study. The bar specimens were prepared to determine fracture toughness by using chevron notched beam method with fourpoint bending test. The grain size was evaluated by a mean linear intercept method using a scanning electron microscope. X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement were performed to evaluate the amount of tetragonal and cubic phases of zirconia. Contrast ratio (CR) was measured to investigate the level of translucency. RESULTS. PA had the lowest fracture toughness among other groups (P