Effect of surface treatments and aging on phase transformation and flexural strength of different Y-TZP ceramics

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of surface treatments and artificial aging on surface roughness (Ra), phase transformation, and flexural strength of yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP) ceramics. Two-hundred and eighty specimens from four types of Y-TZP were divided into seven groups, according to the surface treatments and aging used: control, air-abrasion, air-abrasion + aging, grinding, grinding + aging, erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser, Er:YAG laser + aging. The Ra values were measured using a profilometer. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was performed to determine phase transformation. Specimens were subjected to a three-point bending test and loaded until fracture. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) analyses were performed on one specimen per group. Grinding and air-abrasion groups exhibited higher Ra values than the others (P < 0.05). The differences in the roughness and flexural strength values between the laser and control groups were not significant. For all materials, the highest amount of monoclinic phase was found after air-abrasion. Grinding groups showed lower flexural strength values compared with the control groups (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the control and air-abrasion groups. Aging did not affect the roughness and flexural strength (P > 0.05). The grinding process is not recommended in clinical usage for Y-TZP because of the remarkable decrease in flexural strength and reliability.