Effects of Sandblasting and Silicoating on Bond Strength Between Titanium and Porcelain

Objectives: Aim of the present study to evaluate the effect of the different sized Al₂O₃ particles and tribochemical silica-modified Al₂O₃ particles on titanium surface in order to determine most effective method for increasing the bond strength of porcelain to titanium.
Methods: Thirty rectangular plate of commercially pure titanium were milled using CAD/CAM systems for each group of airborne-particle abrasions. The specimens were divided into 3 groups, which were subjected to one of the following airborne-particle abrasion conditions: 1) Silica-modified 110 mm Al₂O₃; 2) 150 mm Al₂O₃ particles; 3) 50 mm Al₂O₃ particles. The porcelain was applied onto the cleaned titanium plate surfaces. All specimens were prepared for four-point bending test on a universal testing machine. The strain energy release rate (G_c value) was calculated for each test group. The data was then analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni test for multiple comparisons.
Results: Mean and standard deviation values of strain energy release rate (G_c) values of titanium-porcelain complex were presented, respectively: Silica-modified 110 mm Al₂O₃ 24.5 (4.1) J/m², 150 mm Al₂O₃ 18.6 (5.0) J/m², 50 mm Al₂O₃ 20.8 (6.1) mm. The one-way ANOVA test indicated that there was a significant difference between the groups. (p=0.048) According to Bonferroni test, there was a statistically significance between the silica-modified 110 mm Al₂O₃ and 150 mm Al₂O₃ groups. (p=0.048) There were no significant differences between silica-modified 110 mm Al₂O₃ -50 mm Al₂O₃ and 150 mm Al₂O₃-50 mm Al₂O₃ groups. (p>0.05)
Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, the following conclusions were drawn:

1) Airborne-particle abrasion with silica-modified 110 mm Al₂O₃ indicated higher bond strength than airborne abrasion with 150 mm Al₂O_3.
2) There was no difference between airborne-particle abrasion with silica-modified 110 mm Al₂O₃ and airborne abrasion with 150 mm Al₂O_3.
3) Tribochemical silica coating had an positive effect on particle size used in sandblasting technique.