Influence of laboratory light sources on the wear characteristics of indirect composites.

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the influence of light sources on the mechanical properties and wear characteristics of indirect composite materials. The two composite materials used were Estenia C&B and Epricord. The three laboratory polymerization units used, of which the wavelength range was 400-500 nm, were Hyper LII (two metal halide lamps of 4.82 mW/cm(2)), α-Light II (one halogen lamp and two fluorescent tubes of 3.60 mW/cm(2)), and Labolight LV-II (three fluorescent tubes of 0.63 mW/cm(2)). Three-body wear test was performed using indirect composite plate specimens, a gold alloy antagonist, and a polymer slurry. Wear depths of Estenia C&B polymerized with Hyper LII, α-Light II, and Labolight LV-II were 5.7, 18.5, and 64.2 µm respectively, whereas those of Epricord were 12.9, 18.7, and 48.5 µm respectively. Results showed that, after 100,000 cycles of localized loading, high-intensity light sources were effective in enhancing the wear resistance of both composite materials.

Hardness and microstructure of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al alloy for dental casting.

OBJECTIVE: The hardness and microstructures of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al alloy castings were investigated for application to dental cast prostheses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cast specimens of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al alloy, Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy and CP Ti were prepared using a centrifugal-type casting machine and a magnesia-based investment material. The hardness of the cross-sections of the cast specimens were measured. The microstructure of the castings was observed using an optical microscope and was then analyzed by X-ray diffractometry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The hardness of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al alloy at the inner part of the castings was 361 Hv, while the hardnesses of Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy and CP Ti were 384 and 269 Hv, respectively. The thickness of the surface hardened layer for Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al alloy was thinner than those for Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy and CP Ti. The microstructure of the Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al alloy casting was confirmed to be ß phase.

Surface properties of an indirect composite polymerized with five laboratory light polymerization systems.

A study was conducted to evaluate the influence of laboratory light polymerization systems on the post-curing properties of a composite. An indirect composite (Sinfony) was polymerized with five polymerization systems (Visio system, Hyper LII, Pearlcure Light, Twinkle MIII, and UniXS II) using nine polymerization modes. After light exposure, Knoop hardness number, wear depth, and changes in gloss were determined. The highest hardness number was recorded with the use of the Hyper LII (120 s) and Pearlcure Light (120 s) units, whereas the lowest value was obtained with the Visio system and UniXS II (60 s). Six groups demonstrated comparable as well as higher wear resistance to toothbrush abrasion (Hyper LII 60 and 120 s, UniXS II 120 s, Pearlcure Light 60 and 120 s, and Twinkle MIII 120 s), and two groups exhibited lower wear resistance (Visio system and UniXS II 60 s). Gloss of the composite was not dependent on the polymerization mode used before wear testing. However, surface gloss was significantly reduced by toothbrush dentifrice abrasion. Within the limitations of the present experiment, it can be concluded that the Sinfony composite can be polymerized sufficiently with high-intensity light polymerization units.

Effect of a metal priming agent on wear resistance of gold alloy-indirect composite joint.

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of a metal priming agent on wear resistance of gold alloy-composite joint. Four types of plate specimen were prepared: composite (Estenia C&B or Epricord) alone, type 4 gold alloy alone, alloy-composite joint without priming agent, and alloy-composite joint bonded with a priming agent (Alloy Primer). Three-body wear test was performed using the plate specimens, gold alloy antagonist, and polymer slurry. Joined specimens with priming exhibited less wear depth (in microm; 21.0 for Estenia and 24.9 for Epricord) than the joined specimens without priming (57.8 for Estenia and 46.7 for Epricord). Wear depth of the single plate specimens when abraded with the gold alloy antagonist was ranked as follows: Estenia (9.6), gold alloy (12.8), and Epricord (19.1). It was concluded that the use of a metal priming agent at the alloy-composite interface effectively enhanced the wear resistance of the joined area when under cycled loading.

Depth of cure and hardness of an indirect composite polymerized with three laboratory curing units.

This study determined the hardness and curing depth of a light-activated indirect composite polymerized with three laboratory light-polymerizing units for the purpose of comparing the curing performance of the three units. A light-activated composite material for indirect application (Vita Zeta) was polymerized with three light-polymerizing units equipped with the following light sources: 1) one halogen lamp and two fluorescent lamps (alpha-Light II); 2) three halogen lamps (Twinkle HLG); and 3) one metal halide lamp (Twinkle LI). Knoop hardness and curing depth were determined for groups of five specimens using standardized testing methods. The results were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Scheffé's S intervals (alpha = 0.05). The Knoop hardness number (KHN) generated with the halogen-fluorescent unit (12.5 KHN) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those produced by the halogen unit (13.9 KHN) and the metal halide unit (14.2 KHN). Of the three units, the halogen-fluorescent unit exhibited the lowest depth of cure. Both the hardness and curing depth of the composite were influenced by the laboratory polymerizing units employed.