Bond strength of composites to etched and silica-coated porcelain fusing alloys.

In vitro bond strengths of two composite veneering materials to two porcelain fusing alloys were measured utilizing two storage conditions. The alloys were etched or treated with silica applied by blasted, thermal or pyrogenic techniques and then silanated. Bond strengths were higher for the Ni-Cr-Be than the Au-Pd alloy with most values greater than 18 MPa. Bond strengths to etched and silanated Au-Pd alloy were low (less than 6.5 MPa), whereas samples treated with silica and silanated had significantly higher values. Bond strengths to the Ni-Cr-Be alloy were highest with the thermal and pyrogenic silica treatments. After thermocycling, most bond strengths to the Au-Pd alloy decreased, but were the same or higher to the Ni-Cr-Be alloy. Cohesive failures of the opaquers were observed.