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Purpose: This study compared the mechanical properties of In-Ceram Zirconia and In-
Ceram Alumina. Materials and Methods: Ninety-four disks and six bars were prepared
with the slip-casting technique. The disks were used to assess biaxial flexural strength
(piston on three ball), Weibull modulus, hardness, and fracture toughness with two
methods: indentation fracture and indentation strength. The bars were used to measure
elastic moduli (Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio). X-ray diffraction analysis of the
specimens was carried out upon every step of the specimen preparation and of the
fractured surfaces. Results: Mean biaxial flexure strengths of In-Ceram Alumina and In-
Ceram Zirconia were 600 MPa (SD 60) and 620 MPa (SD 61), respectively. Mean fracture
toughness measured according to indentation strength was 3.2 MPa · m1/2 (SD 0.34) for In-
Ceram Alumina and 4.0 MPa · m1/2 (SD 0.43) for In-Ceram Zirconia. Mean fracture
toughnesses of In-Ceram Alumina and In-Ceram Zirconia measured according to
indentation fracture were 2.7 MPa · m1/2 (SD 0.34) and 3.0 MPa · m1/2 (SD 0.48),
respectively. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that little phase transformation from
tetragonal to monoclinic occurred when the specimens were fractured, supporting the
existence of a modest difference of fracture toughness between the two ceramics.
Conclusion: No statistically significant difference was found in strength. In-Ceram Zirconia
was tougher (P < .01) than In-Ceram Alumina when tested according to indentation
strength. However, no significant difference was found in the fracture toughness when
tested with the indentation fracture technique. Int J Prosthodont 2002;15:339–346.
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