Influence of Surface Treatments on Adhesion of Porcelain to Titanium

Bond strength of commercial veneering porcelain to experimental cast Ti-Cr alloy

This study evaluated bond strengths of three commercial veneering porcelains to experimental cast titanium-chromium (Ti-Cr) alloy and commercially pure titanium (cp-Ti) via three-point bending test. After the bending test, the fractured specimens were analyzed using an electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA). The Ti-Cr specimens showed lower bond strengths than the cp-Ti specimens, irrespective of the layering porcelain material; however, all the strengths exceeded the minimum requirement of ISO 9693-1:2012 (>25 MPa). EPMA revealed that titanium and/or chromium elements were detected on the debonded porcelain surface of the Ti-Cr and cp-Ti specimens in the case of the higher bond strength. Contrastingly, the residual porcelain was retained on the metallic surface in the case of the lower bond strength. Although porcelain bonding to the titanium alloy is influenced by porcelain type, the Ti-Cr alloy could be feasible for porcelain-fused-to-metal restorations.

Effect of chemical surface treatment of titanium on its bond with dental ceramics

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Airborne-particle abrasion of titanium is a clinically accepted method of surface preparation. As a side effect of airborne-particle abrasion, particles of the abrasive material get embedded into the surface. How particle presence or removal from the titanium surface affects the strength of the titanium-ceramic bond is unclear.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the effect of removing Al₂O₃ particles embedded into the surface by means of chemical surface treatment on the strength of the titanium-ceramic bond.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Titanium (TritanCpTi 1, Dentaurum, 99.5% Ti) disks were airborne-particle abraded with 110 μm Al₂O₃ at a pressure of 0.4 MPa and an angle of approximately 45 degrees. The surface was etched chemically using 1 of 8 reagents, and the veneering ceramic applied and fired. The strength of the metal-ceramic bond was determined using the shear strength test. Further, the effect of thermal fatigue on the bond strength was evaluated. The results were analyzed with 2-way ANOVA and the Tukey honest significant difference (HSD) test (α=.05). Fractographic investigations and microscopic tests were also performed to determine the quality of the titanium-ceramic bond.

RESULTS

Effective etching of the titanium surface and removal of Al₂O₃ particles included a 30% water solution of HNO₃ + 3% HF, a mixture of HNO₃ + HF + glycerin, a 4% solution of HF in H₂O₂, and a 4% solution of HF in H₂O. A statistically significant difference (of about 50%) in bond strength was found between the groups subjected to chemical etching and the control group (P<.05). Additionally, a statistically significant difference (about 25%) was found after thermocycling (P<.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Removing the Al₂O₃ particles embedded into the titanium surface after airborne-particle abrasion lowers the strength of the titanium-ceramic bond (P<.05). Thermocycling also weakens the strength of the titanium-ceramic bond, regardless of the surface preparation (P<.05).