Surface treatment of dental ceramics by ion implantation

Abstract

In this work were studied the ion irradiation effects on the mechanical properties of three dental ceramics: Omega 900, Vitadur Alpha e IPS Empress 2. Initially, it was investigated the quality of surface finishing for the three ceramics: Omega 900, Vitadur Alpha e IPS Empress 2. Initially, it was investigated the quality of surface finishing for the three ceramics. The best results were obtained using metallographic polishing. In a second phase metallographicaly polished samples in form of small discs, were irradiated with 500 keV N ions at a fluence of 2×10 íons/cm . The friction coefficients and wear between virgin and ion irradiated ceramics samples against enamel dental pins, were measured using a pin-on-disk tribometer. Hardness and Young modulus of the ceramic discs (virgin and irradiated) have been also determined using the nanoindentation technique. The obtained results show that the ion irradiation produces: i)a reduction of 40% in the friction coefficients and wear between the irradiated ceramic discs and the dental enamel, and ii) a decrease of hardness (45%) and Young modulus (35%) in the irradiated region of the samples. There results show that ion irradiation can be used to modify the commercial dental ceramics mechanical properties, transforming them into materials more compatible with dental enamel.