Study of mechanical properties and in vitro degradation of glass-ceramics based on lithium disilicate for application as aesthetic brackets

• Grant number: 12/24863-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2013
• End date: June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Kelmy Macário Barboza Daguano
• Grantee: Leandro dos Santos
• Host Institution: Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (CECS). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this project is to use the known success of lithium disilicate glass-ceramics for developing high-performance aesthetic brackets for braces. The aesthetic bracket is an innovative product with a great market perspective, which is currently produced from sapphire to high costs. The developed material will be submitted to mechanical testing of hardness and fracture toughness, microstructural characterization by X-ray Diffraction, and Optical Microscopy. In addition, biocompatibility tests will be performed, for resistance to degradation in artificial saliva and cytotoxicity. Finally, the material that gives the best result of mechanical testing and biocompatibility testing will be submitted to the test of flexural strength, in order to produce a modern, safe and affordable material. This project will be conducted in partnership with the Vitreous Materials Laboratory of the Federal University of São Carlos, in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Edgar Dutra Zanotto and Msc. Mariana O.C. Villas Boas.(AU)