Effects of heat treatment on the bonding strength of pure titanium processed via selective laser melting and porcelain

To evaluate the effect of heat treatment on the bonding strength of pure titanium formed by selective laser melting (SLM) and porcelain.

Ninety-six pure titanium specimens were laser machined to meet ISO 9693 standards. The specimens were divided into a heat treated group (A) and a nonheat treated group (B). According to the porcelain type, the specimens in groups A and B were divided into Super Ti22 (a), Titankeramik (b), and Triceram (c) groups. Then, according to sandblasting pressures of 0.25 MPa (1) and 0.45 MPa (2), they were further divided into Aa1, Aa2, Ab1, Ab2, Ac1, Ac2, Ba1, Ba2, Bb1, Bb2, Bc1, and Bc2 groups. The surface morphology and roughness of the sandblasted specimens were assessed using a laser scanning confocal microscope. After the porcelain was fused, the three-point bending titanium-porcelain bonding strength was tested. A stereomicroscope was used to characterize the titanium-porcelain interfaces and determine the mode of failure.

The Vickers hardness of group A specimens (188.21 ± 11.94) was significantly lower than that of group B specimens (204.48 ± 6.32) HV (P<0.05). The roughness value in group A1 (2.90 ± 0.32) μm was significantly lower than that in group A2 (3.43 ± 0.43) μm (P<0.05). Specimens in group B1 (2.62 ± 0.08) μm were significantly smaller than those in group B2 (3.01 ± 0.06) μm (P<0.05). The bonding strength in group Aa1 was (33.75 ± 2.31) MPa, group Aa2 was (36.32 ± 1.44) MPa, group Ab1 was (39.82 ± 2.28) MPa, group Ab2 was (33.74 ± 1.53) MPa and group Ac2 was (38.63 ± 1.36) MPa, which was significantly higher than that in the corresponding groups Ba1 (29.65 ± 1.10) MPa, Ba2 (27.17 ± 2.24) MPa, Bb1 (27.29 ± 1.61) MPa, Bb2 (23.85 ± 0.97) MPa, and Bc2 (35.75 ± 1.93) MPa (P<0.05). With increasing sandblasting pressure, the bonding strength of the titanium ceramic in group Aa2 was significantly higher than in group Aa1, while that in group Ab2 was significantly lower than that in group Ab1 (P<0.05). In groups A, Bc1 and Bc2, the fracture model showed mixed failure, while in groups Ba1, Ba2, Bb1, and Bb2, the model showed interfacial failure.

The Vickers hardness of SLM titanium can be significantly reduced by heat treatment. SLM pure titanium after heat treatment is beneficial to combination of the three porcelain types and titanium. The titanium-porcelain bonding strength may be affected by sandblasting pressure.