Influência do envelhecimento hidrotérmico e da fadiga mecânica na resitência à flexão em cerâmicas de zircônia YTZ-P

Abstract

This study evaluated the influence of different aging methods on the biaxial flexural strength in YTZ-P zirconia ceramics. Discs specimes (12 mm, thickness: ISO 6872, diameter 1.2 mm) were made from blocks of partially yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramics (Emax ZirCAD and Zirkonzah) pre sintered. Subsequently, the discs were divided into four groups (n = 10) according to the treatments performed: 1 - control (no aging); 2 - mechanical cycling (2 x 106 and load 200 N); 3 - autoclave (134°C, 24 hours, 2 bar); autoclave (134°C, 24 hours, 2 bar) with mechanical cycling (2 x 106 and 200 N). To determine the percentage and depth of possible zirconia transformations (te-mo) induced by mechanical cycling and/or autoclave, the analysis of X-ray diffraction was performed. The atomic force microscopy was used to measure surface roughness. The average grain size was measured by scanning electron microscopy. After, all specimens were tested for biaxial flexural strength (ISO 6872) in a universal testing machine (EMIC). The data were submitted to statistical tests ANOVA and Tukey (5%). The results showed that values of biaxial flexure strength of control samples Emax ZirCAD and ICE Zirkon were 779.961 ± 114.065a MPa and 716.502 ± 185.732 a MPa, respectively. Mechanical cycling did not altered the values of flexural strength of ceramics Emax ZirCAD (719.706 ± 130.781a MPa) and ICE Zirkon (743.961 ± 119.150 a MPa). After aging in autoclave there was an increase in flexural strength of ceramics Emax ZirCAD (848.07 ± 75.859b MPa) and ICE Zirkon (936.47 ± 120.907 b MPa). The average strengths for the groups autoclave/mechanical cycling ZirCAD Emax (49.301 MPa ± 867.26 b) and ICE Zirkon (108.893 ± 865.51 b MPa) were similar to their respective groups autoclave. Additionally, autoclave and autoclave/mechanical cycling groups exhibited the highest percentages phase transformation of tetragonal to monoclinic, phase transformation depth and higher values of roughness. The study concluded that mechanical cycling did not significantly altered the values of flexural strength of two ceramics studied, but degradation in low temperature in autoclave increased the values of biaxial flexure strength. Both ceramics analyzed exhibited similar behavior to the treatments performed.