Stress relaxation behavior of dental porcelains at high temperatures.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to measure the stress relaxation behavior at elevated temperatures of three experimental opaque porcelains and three experimental body porcelains.


METHODS
Feldspathic porcelain formulations covering a range of thermal contraction coefficients were supplied by a dental ceramics manufacturer. Six specimens, 11 mm in diameter by 22 mm long, were fabricated for each porcelain. The specimens were tested in compression at five temperatures controlled to +/- 1 degree C in a hot stage furnace attached to a screw-type uni-axial testing machine.


RESULTS
Mean values of relaxation time, tau u, and the b function were determined by a regression fit to the relation: psi (t) = exp [-(t/tau u)b]. Values of b ranged from 0.23 to 0.53 for opaque porcelain and 0.47 to 0.64 for body porcelain. Relaxation times ranged from 2.6 s to 4 x 10(4) s for the opaque porcelains and 1.5 s to 5.5 x 10(2) s for the body porcelains. A statistically significant variation of b with temperature for three of the experimental porcelains is an indication that these porcelains do not satisfy the theoretical requirements for the porcelains to be classified as thermorheologically simple.


CONCLUSIONS
A knowledge of the relaxation behavior of dental porcelains is necessary so that dental researchers can identify metal/porcelain combinations that will result in low stress values and, therefore, reduce the potential for failure from thermally induced stresses. These properties can be used in the optimization of prosthesis design to reduce the destruction of healthy tissue to accommodate the placement of the dental prosthesis.
DeHoff
P H
PH
Department of Mechanical Engineering & Engineering Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte 28223, USA.
Vontivillu
S B
SB
Wang
Z
Z
Anusavice
K J
KJ
D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry*; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D004548:Elasticity; D006358:Hot Temperature; D016014:Linear Models; D008422:Materials Testing; D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012212:Rheology; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014783:Viscosity
D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys; D003776:Dental Porcelain