Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop an adequate process-, proof- and calculation technique for the chemical strengthening of dental ceramic materials in order to evaluate the efficiency of this method from the engineering point of view.
Methods: Ion exchange examinations below glass temperature have been done for the dental all ceramic system IPS-Empress (Ivoclar). In addition experiments on specimens were undertaken, which were stored in artificial saliva for the period of one month after the ion exchange treatment. The efficiency of the ion-exchange treatments has been evaluated based on the chemical composition of the surface layer, the residual stress distribution, the flexural- and the burst-strength and surface hardness. In addition, Weibull statistical analysis of the four-point bending and burst test data provides new information about the failure mechanisms of chemically strengthened dental ceramics.
Results: The ion-exchange process with a potassium salt increases the reliability of the dental ceramic material "IPS-Empress". By the KNO3 or Tuf-Coat ion exchange treatment potassium ions will be implanted as clusters directly into the crystal lattice which results in an increase of the binding energy and hence, in a pronounced increase in the surface hardness. In particular the stress bearing capabilities of dental all ceramic restorations, which are subject to high bending stresses, i.e. dental crowns and dental bridges, are largely improved by the induced residual stresses. This increase of residual stresses did not relax significantly after a one month storage in artificial saliva.
Significance: Enhanced load limits and a more narrow strength distribution spectrum is considered desirable for increasing the clinical longevity of all ceramics.