Microstructure Evaluation for Laser Densification of Dental Porcelains

Abstract

The feasibility of dental restorations has been investigated using a multi-materials laser densification (MMLD) process, where dental alloy and porcelain powders are laser densified layer by layer to form solid bodies. The present study focuses on the densification behavior of dental porcelain powders in response to a moving laser source. Effects of the laser processing temperature and the green density of the powder bed on microstructure, distortion, macro-cracks, porosities and phase contents of the laser densified porcelain have been investigated. The condition to generate continuous porcelain bodies from powder compacts have also be studied. It is found that the geometry, composition and density of densified porcelain bodies are strongly affected by the laser processing temperature and the green density of the powder compact.