Evaluation of hardness and fracture toughness, coupled with microstructural analysis, of zirconia ceramics stored in environments with different pH values

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pH changes in the oral cavity on the mechanical properties of zirconia and feldspathic ceramics. Bilayered zirconia-feldspathic samples were prepared from three different commercial brands of Y-TZP blocks: Zirkonzahn, Cercon, and Everest. Samples were stored in artificial saliva with different pH values (3.5, 7.0, and 10.0) for 10 days at 37°C. Flexural strength, Vickers hardness, and fracture toughness were calculated after samples were subjected to biaxial flexure test. Microstructural analysis of the materials was also performed. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple comparisons were performed using Tukey's test (α=0.05). Acidic and alkaline environments adversely affected the mechanical properties of zirconia, resulting in material degradation, loss of stabilizer content, and increase in tetragonal-monoclinic phase transformation. Commercial dental zirconia blocks have varied mechanical properties, but they are generally susceptible to degradation when exposed to corrosive environments.