Ceramics-Silikáty 61, (2) 81 - 90 (2017)

The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the mechanical response of zirconia ceramic during torsional, bending and vibrational loading, before and after aging and surface treatments. Three types of loading where imposed upon zirconia specimens, torsion, bending and vibration. The effects of aging, sandblasting and both on the shear modulus, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, storage modulus, loss modulus and tanδ were investigated, while surface characterization was performed through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD). Sandblasting as well as the aging environment caused a raise of zirconia's shear modulus, young's modulus and storage modulus. The most prominent increase, in these parameters was observed when both treatments where combined. Under the limitations of this in-vitro study it can be concluded that the proposed sandblasting and aging procedures do not impair the mechanical properties of zirconia ceramics, as long as the amount of monoclinic zirconia content is kept under low values, capable to induce the transformation toughening mechanism.