Method for enhancing mechanical properties in sintered ceramic bodies having applications in dental restorations
AssigneeJames R. Glidewell Dental Ceramics, Inc.
InventorsJae Won Kim, Enoch Park
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Abstract
A method for enhancing mechanical properties of sintered, zirconia ceramic bodies and zirconia ceramic dental restorations is provided. A porous or pre-sintered stage of a ceramic body may be treated with a tantalum-containing composition prior to sintering. Alternatively, zirconia ceramic powder may be coated with a tantalum-containing composition prior to forming a shaped ceramic body. After sintering, the resulting ceramic bodies have enhanced mechanical properties, such as greater fracture toughness, without a significant decrease in optical properties.
Claims20
A method for enhancing the fracture toughness of an yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramic material comprising:
- a. applying a solution to a porous ceramic body that comprises an yttria-stabilized zirconia material stabilized by 3 mol % to 12 mol % yttria, the solution comprising
- 1. 10 wt % to 80 wt % of a tantalum alkoxide;
- 2. 20 wt % to 90 wt % of a solvent, and
- 3. 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % of a soluble polymer that is soluble in the solvent;
- b. penetrating at least a portion of the porous ceramic body with the solution;
- and
- c. drying and sintering the porous ceramic body.
A method for enhancing the fracture toughness of a sintered body formed from an yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramic material comprising:
- a. applying a solution to a porous ceramic material in powder form that comprises an yttria-stabilized zirconia powder stabilized by 3 mol % to 12 mol % yttria, the solution comprising
- 1. 10 wt % to 80 wt % of a tantalum alkoxide;
- 2. 20 wt % to 90 wt % of a solvent, and
- 3. 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % of a soluble polymer that is soluble in the solvent;
- b. penetrating at least a portion of the porous ceramic material in powder form with the solution;
- c. drying the porous ceramic material in powder form;
- d. compacting the porous ceramic material in powder form into a porous ceramic body;
- and
- e. sintering the porous ceramic body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.