Indentation size effect of Y-TZP dental ceramics

Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze the indentation sizeeffect (ISE) in Vickers hardness of monolithic yttria partially stabilized zirconia (Y-TZP) dental ceramics without and with the addition of dental dye A3. The ISE is analyzed using the Mayer law, a proportional specimen resistance (PSR) model and a modified proportional specimen resistance (MPSR) model. Methods. Two samples of Y-TZP dental ceramics, trade names BruxZir (provided by Glidewell Laboratories, CA, USA), were investigated. The first sample was polished Y-TZP and the second sample was polished Y-TZP with the addition of dental dye A3, by VITA Classical Shade Guide. The Vickers hardness was measured under the following loads: 0.49 N, 0.98 N, 1.96 N, 4.90, 9.81 N and 29.42 N. Thirty indentations were made on each sample, under each load. Relationships between the applied load, F, and the resulting indentation size, d, have been analyzed by the Mayer law, the PSR model and the MPSR model. Results. The Meyer index (n) for both Y-TZP dental ceramics is less than 2, which indicates that hardness is dependent on test loads. The PSR model and the MPSR model were used to calculate "true" Vickers hardness or load-independent hardness. Significance. All applied mathematical models are suitable for the data analysis, which is confirmed with high correlation coefficients, but the best correlation between measured values and mathematical models was achieved with the MPSR model with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999. (C) 2014 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.