RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To find out how to prepare high-density dental ceramics through isostatic pressing so that sintering shrinkage will be reduced.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To prepare Al2O3/ZrO2 composite powder first, then to mold through dry-pressing, and to shape the green-body through isostatic pressing. The green-bodies were sintered at the temperature of 1 400 degrees C and kept at the temperature for different period of time (2 h, 3 h, 4 h). After that, the density and fracture strength were measured and the microstructure observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sample product's density, line-shrinkage, and fracture strength of ceramics was rising with the sintering time lengthened. The sample product kept under the temperature of 1 400 degrees C for 4 hours, the fracture strength was (497.27 +/- 78.45) MPa and glass phase distributed evenly in the ceramics and the grains were integrated owing to the glass phase. The longer the sintering time, the more even the microstructure was.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The sintering quality and the efficiency were improved through isostatic pressing.</p>