[Effect of niobium nitride on the bonding strength of titanium porcelain by magnetron sputtering].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of magnetron sputtered niobium nitride (NbN) on the bonding strength of commercially pure cast titanium (Ti) and low-fusing porcelain (Ti/Vita titankeramik system).


METHODS
Sixty Ti specimens were randomly divided into four groups, group T1, T2, T3 and T4. All specimens of group T1 and T2 were first treated with 120 microm blasted Al2O3 particles, and then only specimens of group T2 were treated with magnetron sputtered NbN film. All specimens of group T3 and T4 were first treated with magnetron sputtered NbN film and then only specimens of group T4 were treated with 120 microm blasted Al2O3 particles. The composition of the deposits were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). A universal testing machine was used to perform the three-point bending test to evaluate the bonding strength of Ti and porcelain. The microstructure of NbN, the interface of Ti-porcelain and the fractured Ti surface were observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy depressive spectrum (EDS), and the results were compared.


RESULTS
The XRD results showed that the NbN deposits were cubic crystalline phases. The bonding strength of Ti and porcelain in T1 to T4 group were (27.2+/-0.8), (43.1+/-0.6), (31.4+/-1.0) and (44.9+/-0.6) MPa. These results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and differences between groups were compared using least significant difference test. Significant inter-group differences were found among all groups (P<0.05). The results of SEM showed that with treatment of Al2O3 or NbN, alone, pre-cracks were found in the interface of Ti-porcelain, while samples treated with both Al2O3 and NbN had better bond. EDS of Ti-porcelain interface showed oxidation occurred in T1, T2 and T3, but was well controlled in T4.


CONCLUSIONS
Magnetron sputtered NbN can prevent Ti from being oxidized, and can improve the bonding strength of Ti/Vita titankeramik system. Al2O3 blast can also improve the bonding strength of Ti/Vita titankeramik system.
Wang
Shu-shu
SS
Institute of Stomatology, Department of Prosthodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
Zhang
La-bao
LB
Guang
Han-bing
HB
Zhou
Shu
S
Zhang
Fei-min
FM
D001840:Dental Bonding; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry*; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009556:Niobium / Q000737:chemistry*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
D009556:Niobium; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D014025:Titanium