Forces fracturing cements at die interfaces and their dependence on film thickness

Relationship between the strength of glass ionomers and their adhesive strength to metals

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to examine the possible correlation between the strength of glass ionomers and their adhesive strength to metals.

METHODS

Three different brands of glass ionomers mixed at four different P/L ratios were evaluated. The compressive and diametral tensile strengths of the cements were determined. The shear bond strengths were determined between four different types of dental casting alloys and the cement made with the different P/L ratios.

RESULTS

Significant (p < 0.05) increases in the bond strength to any of the metal surfaces were found in the cement specimens mixed at the highest P/L ratio compared to those mixed at the lowest P/L ratio. For two glass ionomers (FI and DNT), the specimens prepared at the highest P/L ratio showed significantly greater diametral tensile strength than those prepared at the lowest P/L ratio (p < 0.05).

SIGNIFICANCE

The present study showed a significant correlation between diametral tensile strengths and bond strengths. It is suggested that the use of glass ionomers with high mechanical strength is an important factor of enhancing the adhesion to metal surfaces.

Effect of cement film thickness on the fracture resistance of a machinable glass-ceramic

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the fracture resistance of a machinable glass-ceramic plate cemented to a resin composite block as a function of the cement film thickness for two types of cement.

METHODS

Ceramic plates were cemented to resin composite blocks using either zinc phosphate cement or a resin composite cement. For the zinc phosphate cement, the film thickness was 33 +/- 8 microns or 128 +/- 8 microns; for the resin composite cement, the thickness ranged from 26 +/- 11 microns to 297 +/- 48 microns. The elastic modulus was determined for each of the cements. Fracture loads were obtained by using a spherical steel indenter in the center of the glass-ceramic plate. The Weibull distribution was used for the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

For glass-ceramic plates cemented with zinc phosphate cement, the fracture resistance was independent of the film thickness. When the resin composite cement was used, a gradual decrease of the fracture strength was observed that became statistically significant at a cement thickness of 300 microns or more. The characteristic fracture strength of glass-ceramic plates cemented with the resin composite cement was about 75% higher than when using the zinc phosphate cement. This difference is attributed to the bonding of the resin cement to the ceramic plate and the supporting structure.

SIGNIFICANCE

The findings of this study suggest that the resistance to fracture due to indentation of the glass-ceramic may not be affected by the cement film thickness as much as previously thought.

Influence of cement layer thickness on the adhesive bond strength of polyalkenoate cements

The fracture toughness and yield stress values of model zinc polycarboxylate and glass polyalkenoate cements have been used to calculate plastic zone sizes. The size of the plastic zone at the crack tip in these materials has been used to predict whether cement layer thickness is likely to influence the adhesive bond strength. In the model zinc polycarboxylate cement studied, the plastic zone size was comparable to the cement layer thickness and had a pronounced influence on the shear bond strengths obtained. In contrast, the plastic zone sizes obtained for the glass polyalkenoate cements were much smaller and the shear bond strengths were found to be much less dependent on cement layer thickness.