Flexural strength of a glass-infiltrated alumina dental ceramic incorporated with silicon carbide whiskers.
OBJECTIVE
The addition of silicon carbide whiskers has been known to reinforce ceramics. This study compared the flexural strength of a glass-infiltrated alumina dental ceramic with various amounts of silicon carbide whiskers incorporated into the alumina matrix.


METHODS
Three groups with a total of 30 specimens were included: glass-infiltrated alumina dental ceramic with 0, 0.125, and 0.25 wt% silicon carbide whiskers. The flexural strength was measured using a three-point bending test, and the data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the fracture surfaces of all three materials.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the flexural strength among the three groups. Glass-infiltrated alumina dental ceramic failed predominantly by transgranular fracture and to a lesser degree by intergranular fracture.


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of silicon carbide whiskers did not change the flexural strength of glass-infiltrated alumina dental ceramic.
Tan
S C
SC
Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
Chai
J
J
Wozniak
W T
WT
Takahashi
Y
Y
D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry*; D005898:Glass; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D018583:Pliability; D017655:Silicon Compounds
D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D017655:Silicon Compounds; D003776:Dental Porcelain; C070870:In-Ceram; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; C022088:silicon carbide