Electrical performance of fine-grained Y-TZP/TiC composites obtained through a hydrothermal-assisted sol-gel process

Y₂O₃-stabilized tetragonal ZrO₂ polycrystal (Y-TZP) composites with various TiC contents were successfully synthesized via a modified hydrothermal-assisted sol-gel method. Fine precursor powders can be obtained with high crystallinity, nanoscale grain size and uniform morphology. SEM images of the ceramic products show that TiC particles are distributed homogeneously in the final Y-TZP matrix, and their average grain sizes are approximately 390–670 nm and 150–230 nm for the Y-TZP and TiC phases, respectively. A higher TiC volume fraction has a negative effect on the relative density and hardness but a significant positive influence on electrical conductivity. The electrical conductivity values are increased from 115 S/m to 1.23 × 10⁵ S/m with TiC contents varying, demonstrating that the percolation threshold is approximately as low as 11.6 vol% for the samples, which is much lower than those of previous Y-TZP/TiC ceramics. The high electrical performance is probably due to the high D (the diameters of the insulating particles)/d (the diameters of conductive particles) ratio and submicron-sized grains.     

Y-TZP/Al_2O_3超细粉末的研究

用共沉淀法制备了3mol％Y_2O_3-ZrO_2-20Wt％Al_2O_3超细粉末。利用热分析、X射线、粒度分析仪、透射电镜和扫描电镜等研究了粉末的性能。实验结果表明:制备的粉末组分均匀,颗粒粒度为10nm,粒度分布窄,团聚体尺寸小,烧结活性高。粉末的相组成为t-ZrO_2。烧结体显微结构致密细晶,具有优异的力学性能。     

口腔修复用Y-TZP陶瓷材料制备工艺研究

采用国产3Y-TZP亚微米粉体，通过双向模压结合等静压成形有效克服了条形试样的烧结弯曲，探讨了24h排胶工艺对预烧试样力学性能的影响，通过对预烧试样热膨胀曲线的测定、不同烧结温度试样力学性能和密度的比较及XRD定量分析确定了适宜的烧结工艺。结果表明，牙科支架用陶瓷，将预烧试样升至1550℃保温0．5h，排胶工艺对预烧试样的抗弯强度和断裂韧性并无显著影响，对于即可获得足够的抗弯强度，提高其断裂韧性。     

3Y-TZP ceramics with improved hydrothermal degradation resistance and fracture toughness

Different factors such as the way of incorporating the Y₂O₃ stabilizer, alumina addition and sintering temperature were assessed with the goal to improve the low temperature degradation (LTD) resistance of 3Y-TZP without compromising on the mechanical properties. The degradation of hydrothermally treated specimens was studied by X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.Decreasing the sintering temperature decreased the LTD susceptibility of 3Y-TZPs but did not allow to obtain a LTD resistant 3Y-TZP with optimized mechanical properties. Alumina addition along with the use of Y₂O₃ stabilizer coated starting powder allowed to combine both an excellent toughness and LTD resistance, as compared to alumina-free and stabilizer co-precipitated powder based equivalents. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the improved LTD resistance could be attributed to the segregation of Al³⁺ at the grain boundary and the heterogeneously distributed Y³⁺ stabilizer.     

Precise micromachining of yttria-tetragonal zirconia polycrystal ceramic using 532 nm nanosecond laser

High quality micro-sized steps and blind hole structures without microcracks, chips or spatter deposition were machined on yttria-tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP, 3 mol% yttria) by nanosecond laser (wavelength=532 nm, pulse width ~6 ns). The diameter of blind hole is 500 μm and each step is 500±10 μm wide and 100±5 μm deep. The 1.35 mm³/min removal rate and the smooth machined surface with Ra=2.824 μm roughness depicting the high precise and efficient processing were achieved. The ablation characteristics of nanosecond laser process of Y-TZP ceramic were also studied. Based on the study, a reasonable design of the processing path for micromachining of a finer embedded step with 24±2 μm width (smaller than the 60 μm focused spot size) around the inner-wall of a 2×2 mm² cavity was developed. These results and discussion offer new possibilities in the manufacturing of bio-ceramic products by nanosecond laser with high processing quality and efficient.     

Fabrication of highly bioactive zirconia ceramics via grain-boundary activation for dental implants

Yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) ceramics with outstanding mechanical properties and aesthetic origins are expected to be used in dental implant applications. However, tetragonal zirconia ceramics are not bioactive, which affect the osseointegration and reliability as dental implant materials. Herein, in this study, Y-TZP ceramics were modified by grain-boundary activation via coating a bioactive glass (BG) sol with different content on the crystal surfaces of zirconia powder and followed by being gelled, dried, granulated, low-temperature treated, molded and sintered at 1450°C for 3 h in air. The effects of BG content on the morphology, phase compositions, mechanical properties, in vitro mineralization ability and cell biological properties of the bioactivity modified Y-TZP ceramics were evaluated. The BG additive did not affect the tetragonal–monoclinic phase transformation of ZrO₂. However, the addition of BG decreased the flexural strength of the modified Y-TZP ceramics compared to that of Y-TZP. The in vitro mineralization results showed that a homogeneous apatite layer was produced on the surface of the Y-TZP ceramics when they were immersed in the simulated body fluid for 21 days. The cell response results indicated that the bioactive surface modification of Y-TZP ceramics could promote cell adhesion, propagation and osteogenic differentiation performance. Thus, our research results suggest that the highly bioactive Y-TZP ceramics could be a potential candidate for dental implant material.     

Effect of different surface shapes formed by femtosecond laser on zirconia-resin cement shear bond strength

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different surface shapes formed by femtosecond (FS) laser on zirconia (Y-TZP)-resin cement shear bond strength (SBS). Background data: All ceramic restoration is used as an alternative to metal-ceramic restorations, due to its better aesthetics, strength, and toughness properties. However, bond strength of restoration to tooth and other materials is effective to long term success of the restoration, and to achieve it surface treatment is required on ceramic surface. Materials and methods: Forty square-shaped zirconia samples were prepared and assigned to four groups of 10. The details of the groups are as follows: Group A, square-shaped recessed surface; Group B, square-shaped projection surface; Group C, circular-shaped recessed surface; Group D, circular-shaped projection surface. The SBSs values were performed with a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. The data were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey HSD multiple comparisons tests. Results: The one-way ANOVA results on SBSs of the zirconia material bonded with resin cement revealed significant differences among the groups (p < 0.05). The Tukey HSD test results revealed that Group B and D had significantly higher SBS values than other groups (p < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between each other (p > 0.05). Additionally, Group A and C had significantly lower values than other groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Different surface shapes formed by FS laser provided a significant increase in SBSs. The SBS values of projection surfaces of circular and square-shapes are greater than that of recessed surfaces of circular and square-shapes.     

Y-TZP/Al2O3复相陶瓷的液相烧结及显微结构

通过在Y-TZP／Al2O3复相陶瓷材料中加入一定的添加剂，可以使其在较低的温度下进行液相烧结，使材料的烧结温度大幅度降低．由于液相的存在，氧化锆晶粒较细，而氧化铝晶粒可以借助液相发育成长柱状，这种形状的晶粒有利于陶瓷材料的力学性能，复相材料仍然保持较高的强度和断裂韧性．