Flexural properties and finite element analysis of novel 3D-printed ceramic materials via 3D-LCM technology

BackgroundThis study evaluates the mechanical properties of dental crown prosthodontic materials by investigating the flexural strength and stress distribution of various ceramic materials, including milled zirconia and two ceramics fabricated using LCM technology, employing Finite Element Analysis (FEA).MethodsSeventy-five samples were divided into five groups: milled zirconia, Zirconia-210, Zirconia-230, Alumina-350 and Alumina-500. Flexural strength tests, including three-point bending, Weibull analysis and FEA, were conducted to analyse stress distribution. Data were evaluated using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test.Results3D-printed zirconia showed superior flexural strength compared to milled zirconia and alumina. Zirconia-210 had the highest flexural strength (886.35 MPa), while Alumina-350 had the lowest (424.49 MPa). Alumina-350 exhibited higher von Mises stress (25.77 MPa) than the control group (22.83 MPa), whereas Alumina-500 had the lowest stress (22.65 MPa). Zirconia models showed a slight increase in von Mises strain, while alumina models showed a decrease compared to the control.ConclusionOur study found that 3D-printed zirconia displayed higher flexural strength when compared to milled zirconia and alumina. Moreover, there were noticeable variations in stress levels and strain behaviours observed in the materials.