Ultrafast crystallization of dental glass ceramics aided by an electric field

• Grant number: 23/14706-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: January 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Ana Candida Martins Rodrigues
• Grantee: Fernanda Mendes Silva
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07793-6 - CEPIV - Center for Teaching, Research and Innovation in Glass, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Recently, an innovative sintering technique with concurrent crystallization, employing field and controlled electric current, was presented - a technique called Flash (Sinter)-Crystallization. However, its potential in the application of dental glass-ceramics has not yet been explored. In this project, we raise the hypothesis that the application of the electric field during the crystallization of glass-ceramics from the Li2O - 2Si2O system favors the formation of an interlocked microstructure, resulting in improvements in the mechanical properties of glass-ceramics used in dentistry. Furthermore, this technique stands out for its remarkable processing speed and the requirement for substantially lower temperatures than conventional crystallization methods. These characteristics make it a promising candidate for large-scale adoption by dental professionals in the crystallization of glass-ceramic prostheses. This study represents a significant advance in the search for high-quality dental biomaterials, combining manufacturing efficiency with improved mechanical performance.