P H DeHoff1, K J Anusavice. 1. Department of Mechanical Engineering & Engineering Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze transient and residual midpoint deflections and stresses in metal-opaque porcelain-body porcelain systems with matched and mismatched thermal contraction coefficients. METHODS: Calculations and measurements were made for seven trimaterial strips that covered a wide range of thermal contraction mismatches among constituent materials. Midpoint deflections were measured in a beam-bending viscometer during slow cooling from an initial temperature of 700 degrees C. Linear regression analysis with a correlation coefficient of 0.950 was used to compare measured and calculated residual midpoint deflections. Stress relaxation data were fit to a three-term exponential series by nonlinear regression analyses with correlation ratios ranging from 0.9972 to 0.9999. RESULTS: While finite element analyses correctly predicted the general shape of the deflection behavior as a function of temperature for all combinations, the best agreement between measured mean residual midpoint deflections and calculated values (+250 microns vs. +268 microns) was obtained for strips composed of a Au-Pd alloy (alpha m = 13.5 ppm/ degree C) with a medium expansion opaque porcelain (alpha o = 13.3 ppm/degree C) and a high expansion body porcelain (alpha B = 14.4 ppm/degree C). The highest calculated residual tensile stress of +26 MPa at the surface of body porcelain was associated with the 0.5-mm-thick Ni-Cr-Be alloy strip (alpha m = 15.1 ppm/degree C) with medium expansion porcelains (alpha o = 13.5 ppm/degree C and alpha B = 13.9 ppm/degree C). The smallest measured residual deflection (+10 microns) was also associated with this combination. The results of this study indicated that metal-ceramic strips are sensitive indicators of stress development caused by a thermal contraction mismatch; however, the magnitudes of the residual deflections do not necessarily correlate with the stress magnitudes in the ceramic. SIGNIFICANCE: Currently there are no U.S. or international standards that define the maximum difference in thermal contraction coefficients that can exist between a metal and its ceramic veneer without causing transient failures of ceramic during cooling or delayed failures in ceramic because of high residual tensile stresses. The present research represents a major step in understanding the various factors that influence the development of transient and residual stresses. A knowledge of the effects of process variables on stress development is necessary for selection of potentially successful metal-ceramic systems and for optimizing the design of dental prostheses.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze transient and residual midpoint deflections and stresses in metal-opaque porcelain-body porcelain systems with matched and mismatched thermal contraction coefficients. METHODS: Calculations and measurements were made for seven trimaterial strips that covered a wide range of thermal contraction mismatches among constituent materials. Midpoint deflections were measured in a beam-bending viscometer during slow cooling from an initial temperature of 700 degrees C. Linear regression analysis with a correlation coefficient of 0.950 was used to compare measured and calculated residual midpoint deflections. Stress relaxation data were fit to a three-term exponential series by nonlinear regression analyses with correlation ratios ranging from 0.9972 to 0.9999. RESULTS: While finite element analyses correctly predicted the general shape of the deflection behavior as a function of temperature for all combinations, the best agreement between measured mean residual midpoint deflections and calculated values (+250 microns vs. +268 microns) was obtained for strips composed of a Au-Pd alloy (alpha m = 13.5 ppm/ degree C) with a medium expansion opaque porcelain (alpha o = 13.3 ppm/degree C) and a high expansion body porcelain (alpha B = 14.4 ppm/degree C). The highest calculated residual tensile stress of +26 MPa at the surface of body porcelain was associated with the 0.5-mm-thick Ni-Cr-Be alloy strip (alpha m = 15.1 ppm/degree C) with medium expansion porcelains (alpha o = 13.5 ppm/degree C and alpha B = 13.9 ppm/degree C). The smallest measured residual deflection (+10 microns) was also associated with this combination. The results of this study indicated that metal-ceramic strips are sensitive indicators of stress development caused by a thermal contraction mismatch; however, the magnitudes of the residual deflections do not necessarily correlate with the stress magnitudes in the ceramic. SIGNIFICANCE: Currently there are no U.S. or international standards that define the maximum difference in thermal contraction coefficients that can exist between a metal and its ceramic veneer without causing transient failures of ceramic during cooling or delayed failures in ceramic because of high residual tensile stresses. The present research represents a major step in understanding the various factors that influence the development of transient and residual stresses. A knowledge of the effects of process variables on stress development is necessary for selection of potentially successful metal-ceramic systems and for optimizing the design of dental prostheses.