AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF ION EXCHANGE ON STRENGTHENING OF DENTAL PORCELAIN

이온교환법에 의한 치과용도재의 강도증진 효과에 관한 실험적 연구

Ion exchange strengthening is a chemical process whereby large alkali ions(such as potassium) are substituted for smaller ions(sodium) within the surfaces of glasses and ceramics, thereby reducing the thermal expansion coefficient of this surface region, and creating beneficial state of compressive stress within the near surface region. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of ion exchange and etching treatments on the strength of some dental porcelains. Two feldspathic dental porcelains(Vitadur-N, G-Cera) were used in this study. A commercial ion exchange paste and etching gel containing 8% hydrofluoric acid were used for surface conditioning. Transverse strength was measured using a universal testing machine and the technique of EPMA(electron probe micro analysis) was used to access the potassium contents. The results were as follows: 1. Improvement in strength was only obtained by treating the surface placed in tension. 2. No changes in the dimensions of the treated specimens were detected when samples were measured with a micrometer. 3. There was significant increase in transverse strength of G-Cera IV group treated with etching and ion exchange, compared with G-Cera II group only treated with ion exchange. 4. From the results of EPMA test, increase in potassium contents was observed on the surface treated with ion exchange paste.