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R-Curve Behavior of Dental Ceramic Materials

Department of Dental Prosthetics, Section of Dental Materials, University of Technology Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, D-52074 Aachen, Germany;

* corresponding author, h.fischer{at}rwth-aachen.de

Some technical ceramics exhibit the R-curve effect, i.e., an increasing fracture resistance with crack extension which is a desirable material property because more energy is necessary to propagate a microscopic crack. The objective of this study was to prove whether dental ceramic materials exhibit R-curve behavior. Nine dental ceramics were examined by the indentation-strength method. It was found that all of the tested ceramic materials exhibt a rising R-curve with crack extension. The R-curve behavior was more pronounced for the high-strength materials In-Ceram Alumina, monolithic alumina, and especially Empress 2. We conclude from our results that the mechanical behavior of a dental ceramic material can be judged more comprehensively, if the R-curve of the respective material is known.

KEY WORDS: ceramics • R-curves • indentation-strength method • fracture resistance • crack extension