The Surface Condition of Ni-Cr after SiC Abrasive Blasting for Applications in Ceramic Restorations

Materials (Basel). 2020 Dec 21;13(24):5824. doi: 10.3390/ma13245824.

Abstract

Abrasive blasting is a process widely used in dentistry. One of the uses is the development of metal surfaces for connections with ceramics in fixed prosthetic restorations. The purpose of this paper was to check how the rough surface profile (width, height, and depth on unevenness) impacts the surface's condition, like its wettability and percentage of stuck abrasives. The Ni-Cr alloy surface was abrasive blasted by silicon carbide with the various pressure parameters (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 MPa) and abrasive particle sizes (50, 110, and 250 µm). Cleaned surfaces were examined for roughness, wettability, and percentage of stuck abrasive particles on the surface. The surface after abrasive blasting using 110 µm of abrasive size and 0.4 MPa pressure has the best wettability results. The width of unevenness may cause it. When the unevenness has too small or too large width and depth, the fluids may not cover the entire cavities because of locking the air. The surface condition of dental alloys directly affects metal-ceramic connection strength. The knowledge about the impact of the abrasive blasting parameters on the bond strength will allow one to create durable dental restorations.

Keywords: Ni-Cr alloy; PFM crowns; abrasive blasting; fixed dental restorations; silicon carbide; surface condition.