Mechanical Properties of Porcelain-CaSiO3 Biocomposites Prepared by Sol-Gel Method for Dental Application

Abstract

Abstract In this study, improving the mechanical properties of Porcelain-CaSiO3 bioactive composites has been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), flexural strength, and Vickers microhardness tester. Preparing the porcelain-CaSiO3 composite has been done using the sol-gel method from Si(OC2H5)4, Ca (NO3)2.4H2O as starting materials and HNO3 used as a catalyst and mixed the sol of CaSiO3 with Porcelain IPS inline powder with three different weight percentages of CaSiO3 (P90CS10, P80CS20 and P70CS30 wt. %). Structural characterization revealed the amorphous phase of CaSiO3 when heated at 700 °C and phase transition to the crystalline phase when heated at 950 °C, where pseudowollastonite (α-CaSiO3) and Ca2(SiO4) phases have appeared. Concerning the mechanical properties, flexural strength, and Vickers microhardness for porcelain-CaSiO3 composites were increased with increasing CaSiO3 content in the composites. The maximum values of flexural strength and Vicker microhardness were recorded at P70CS30, and they were 99.85 MPa and 1604 MPa, respectively.