Electron/Ion Microscopy of Low-Temperature Sintered Y-TZP Ceramics with Additive of Lithium Disilicate Glass for Dental Restorations

The research of all-ceramic dental restorations has received much attention in recent years due to their unique characteristic, such as good mechanical properties, excellent biocompatibility, and aesthetic performance. Owing to the effect of transformation-toughening phenomena associated with the tetragonal-monoclinic phase transition, zirconia has much higher fracture toughness than other ceramics used in dentistry. Y-TZP (yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal) has been considered as one of the most advantageous candidates for dental restorations. However, the high cost of high temperature (1500 ^oC) sintered Y-TZP restorations inevitably limits commercial applications. To reduce production costs, a sintering additive is used to lower the sintering temperature. Lithium disilicate glass ceramics (LDGC) have been widely used for dental restorations, including inlays, crowns, and bridges. LDGC fabricated by sol-gel method has also been introduced into Y-TZP to optimize its mechanical and optical properties. This study presents the role and influence of LDGC addition on the microstructure of Y-TZP using TEM and FIB/SEM.