Surface characterization of dental Y-TZP ceramic after air abrasion treatment

Objective m of this study was to characterize the surface of Y-TZP after abrasion with various airborne particles. s TZP blanks were cut into 44 discs and sintered according to the manufacturerʹs instructions. The specimens were treated as follows: (a) control specimens, (b) abraded with 50 μm alumina, (c) abraded with 110 μm alumina, (d) abraded with 30 μm silica-coated alumina, (e) abraded with 110 μm silica-coated alumina, (f) abraded with 110 μm alumina followed by 110 μm silica-coated alumina particles. Airborne abrasion was performed at a pressure of 2.5 bar for 15 s/cm2. The Y-TZP was characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). s e morphology of Y-TZP ceramic was changed after the airborne abrasion process compared to the control specimens. The grain boundaries disappeared and part of the airborne particles are embedded and/or rested on the ceramic surfaces. The elemental composition of the Y-TZP surface after the airborne abrasion process depended on the type and size of these particles. The concentration of Si resulted higher after the airborne abrasion process with 110 μm alumina followed by 110 μm silica-coated alumina particles in comparison to the specimens abraded with 110 μm silica-coated alumina particles. The ratio of elements normalized by yttrium for these specimens was: [Zr]/[Y]/[Al]/[Si] = 15.2/1.0/26.0/73.6, respectively. sion ange of grain topography occurred during each impact process. Silica nano-particles covered not only loosely the abraded ceramic surface after abrasion process, but the release of kinetic energy in form of thermal energy resulted in melting of the ceramic surface and in the formation of zirconium silicate.