[Effects of load and loading time on fracture toughness with indentation method]

For clinical application of ceramics such as porcelains that are frequently used as crown restoration materials, it is important to quantitatively evaluate and determine brittleness. This quality is expressed as a fracture toughness value, KIC, but no distinct method for its determination has yet been established. In order to standardize conditions for the determination of KIC by the indentation method, effects of indentation load and loading time on KIC of calcium phosphate crystalline ceramics (CP) were studied at various Vickers indentation loads and various loading times in CP plate-like segments. Furthermore, plate-like segments of each of CP, apatite (AP), mica-beta-spodumene (MIS) and mica (MIC) groups were subjected to experiment at various indentation loads at a fixed loading time to study the effects of indentation load on KIC in four kinds of Castable Ceramics. The results are summarized as follows: 1) The Vickers hardness degree of CP was decreased with an increase in indentation load and loading time, reaching the maximum value (499Hv) at 1kgf of indentation load and 5s of loading time. 2) The value of half of the crack length of CP was increased with an increase in indentation load and loading time, reaching a maximum (530 microns) at 20kgf of indentation load and 30s of loading time. 3) KIC of CP reached the maximum value (2.78MNm-3/2) at 5kgf of indentation load and 5s of loading time, and the minimum (1.52MNm-3/2) at 20kgf of indentation load and 30s of loading time. 4) Optimal experimental conditions for KIC of CP determined by indentation method were 5kgf or 10kgf of indentation load and 15s of loading time. 5) KIC values (MNm-3/2) determined at 5kgf of indentation load and 15s of loading time for CP, AP, MIS and MI were 2.27, 0.95, 1.82 and 1.81, respectively. 6) The course of cracks due to indentation force showed a linear pattern of intra-granular fracture. 7) The cracks were revealed to show median cracks by fractography.