On the friction and wear behaviors of dental machinable porcelain

In order to well design tribosystems of dental CAD-CAM restorations, an understanding of the tribological mechanisms of dental machinable porcelain are essential. The friction and wear behavior of new generation industrially prefabricated Cerec Vitablocs Mark II against uniform Si3N4 ball has been performed using a small amplitude reciprocating apparatus under simulating oral conditions. The loads of 10-40 N, reciprocating amplitudes of 100-500 mu m, frequencies of 1-4 Hz and two lubrications (no/artificial saliva lubrication) were selected. Tests lasting up to 10 000 cycles were conducted. The results show that Cerec Vitablocs Mark II record a friction coefficient of 0.55-0.84. Artificial saliva plays a lubricant effect during wear process. Among three parameters of the test on friction coefficient and wear depth of dental machinable porcelains, the load effect is prominent. Abrasive wear is the main wear mechanism, but brittle cracks and delarnination are more popular especially under unlubricated friction.