The pilot study on the dental machinable zirconia/ La-monazite ceramic

Objective: The aim of this experiment is to investigate the sintering and mechanical properties of the machinable zirconia/ La-monazite diphase ceramic. Method: La-monazite is added to tetragonal zirconia polycrystals stabilized with 3 mol-% yttria(TZP) at different volume percentage: 15%,18% and 20%. The green bodies of three groups are compacted by cold isostatic pressing of 200MPa, and sintering under hydric and air atmosphere at different temperatures: 1560°C,1580°C ,1600°C. The volume density, porous rate , three-point bend strength and Differential Thermal Analysis(DTA)of the sintered bodies are measured. Results: The favourite sintering temperature of zirconia/ La-monazite diphase ceramic is 1580°C.With the concentration of La-monazite increased, the machinability of ceramic composite is better but the mechanical properties declined. Zirconia/ La-monazite diphase ceramic with 18% La-monazite has the best mechanical property. Conclusions: Zirconia/ La-monazite diphase ceramic can be sintered at 1580°C to reach its idea density under cold isostatic pressing(200MPa).