Synthesis and properties of dental zirconia-leucite composites

Abstract

The dental zirconia-leucite composites were synthesized by high temperature solid-state method using potash feldspar, potassium carbonate and zirconia as raw materials. The mechanical properties and the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the prepared zirconia-leucite composites were tested. The results show that the bending strength, the fracture toughness and the metal-ceramic bonding strength of the prepared samples are about 110 MPa, 3-5 MPa/m1/2 and 45 MPa, respectively. The CTE was about 13-73×10-6 °C-1 and close to that of Ni-Cr dental alloy (14-0×10-6 °C-1). The results indicate that the introduction of zirconia is beneficial to the improvement in the mechanical properties and CTE adjustment of porcelain material. The clinical application of the zirconia-leucite composites with good metal-ceramic bonding strength in the dental restoration could be envisioned. © Indian Academy of Sciences.