Airborne-particle abrasion parameters on the quality of titanium-ceramic bonds

Airborne-particle abrasion of titanium is a clinically acceptable method of surface preparation. It is crucial to know the effectiveness of bond strength between the metal substructure and the veneering ceramics after this kind of surface treatment.

The purpose of this study was to determine how the particle size of the abrasive material and pressure affected treated surfaces and the strength of titanium-ceramic bonds.

Disks made of titanium (Tritan CpTi grade 1, Dentaurum, 99.5% Ti) were treated in an airborne-particle abrasion process with 50, 110, and 250 μm aluminum oxide (Al2O3) at pressures of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 MPa. To characterize the treated surfaces, the following values were measured: roughness, free surface energy, and the quantity of abrasive particles attached to the surface. Subsequently, the strength of the metal-ceramic bond was determined. Apart from the strength tests, fractures were observed to determine the character and fracture location in the course of the strength tests. The results of the experiment were analyzed with 2-way ANOVA and the Tukey HSD test (α=.05).

Both the pressure and the particle size of Al2O3 used in the airborne-particle abrasion affected the strength of the titanium-ceramic bond (P<.05). A statistically significant difference was found between the group subjected to airborne-particle abrasion under a pressure of 0.4 MPa with 110-μm Al2O3 particles and the other experimental groups (P<.05).

This study demonstrates that the highest bond strength between a ceramic and titanium substructure can be achieved after airborne-particle abrasion at an angle close to 45 degrees with 110-μm Al2O3 particles under 0.4 MPa of pressure.