Nano-whisker reinforced ceramics for artificial crown

A hand made nano-whisker reinforced glass ceramics used for the artificial crown is developed. Commercially available white nano-whiskers 9A1 ₂O₃2B₂O₃ and dental glass-ceramic powders of porcelain AAA are used as reinforcement and matrix, respectively. A wet mixing process is conducted to ensure a homogeneous distribution of whiskers in the whisker/powder mixture by the use of a mortar. The remaining hand made procedures and the heating process of nano-whisker reinforced glass ceramics are the same as those of glass ceramics without whiskers used by ordinary dental technicians. The hand made ceramics specimens are investigated by means of SEM, EPMA, hardness tester and testing machine for various whisker weight fractions. Slight increase in flexural stiffness and strength and moderate increase in fracture toughness are observed. The reinforcement does not give serious damage if the weight fraction of whiskers is less than 7%.