Physical, mechanical properties and antimicrobial analysis of a novel CaO·Al2O3 compound reinforced with Al or Ag particles

Abstract

Ceramic-metal (CaO•Al 2 O 3-Al and CaO•Al 2 O 3-Ag) compounds were prepared by mechanical milling and consolidated through an in-situ sintering process. The aim of this work is to study the effects of the Al and Ag particles to ceramic-base compound, primarily in the microstructure, and its mechanical and antimicrobial properties. Chemical systems with a 1:1 M ratio between CaCO 3 and Al 2 O 3 powder were formed, with the addition of 10 wt% Al or 10 wt% Ag, respectively. The compound material that consolidated were microstructurally characterized through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, optic microscopy, and X-ray computed tomography. In addition, the hardness, the fracture toughness, the transversal elastic modulus, and the antimicrobial property were evaluated. The results of X-ray diffraction identified the formation of the calcium aluminate phases, such as CaO•6Al 2 O 3 (hibonite:CA6), CaO•2Al 2 O 3 (grossite:CA2), and CaO•Al 2 O 3 (krotite:CA); as well as Al and Ag were identified in its respective system. In addition, the mechanical properties show changes compared to the reference material that was synthesized under the same conditions and, finally, these materials also have an antimicrobial effect, against the Staphylococcus bacterium that is common in the oral cavity, when studied in synthetic saliva.

Incorporation of Hybrid Nanomaterial in Dental Porcelains: Antimicrobial, Chemical, and Mechanical Properties

“…The incorporation of antimicrobial agents into these materials can prevent failures in prosthetic rehabilitation, such as secondary caries (initiated by microorganisms like Streptococcus mutans in 40% of cases [13][14][15][16]), periodontal disease [17], and even peri-implantitis [18]. Some attempts to add antimicrobials to dental ceramics have been made with the incorporation of silver nanoparticles in feldspathic porcelain [19], and into zirconia for dental implant applications [20], antimicrobial glass coatings applications [21], and aluminum particles in ceramic compounds [22].…”