Silica Surface Modification Enhances the Mechanical Reliability of Zirconia-Porcelain Bilayer Systems
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Orthodontics, Institute of Craniofacial Deformity, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Daelim University, Anyang, 13916, Republic of Korea
- 2Department of Dental Biomaterials and Research Institute of Oral Science, College of Dentistry, Kangwon National University, Gangneung-si, Gangwon state, 25457, Republic of Korea
- 3Department and Research Institute of Dental Biomaterials and Bioengineering, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- 4Department of Biomedical Engineering, Daelim University, Anyang, 13916, Republic of Korea
- 5Department of Orthodontics, Institute of Craniofacial Deformity, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea; BK21 FOUR Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
Abstract
Introduction and aims: Zirconia-porcelain bilayer restorations commonly suffer from veneer chipping due to insufficient interfacial bonding and mechanical reliability. This study systematically compared alumina sandblasting with sol-gel-based silica surface modification in terms of the mechanical and interfacial performance of yttria-stabilised tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP)-porcelain systems. Methods: We treated zirconia specimens by alumina sandblasting or sol-gel silica surface modification and characterised them using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and contact angle measurements before porcelain veneering. After veneering, flexural strength and bonding strength were evaluated in accordance with ISO 9693:2019. We assessed mechanical reliability using Weibull analysis. We examined fracture surfaces by SEM and qualitatively evaluated surface topography using confocal laser microscopy. Results: Sol-gel-treated groups exhibited significantly higher flexural strength and bonding strength than the control or sandblasted groups and showed higher Weibull moduli. Representative SEM and EDS observations showed relatively uniform surface morphologies in the sol-gel-treated groups, with silicon remaining detectable after final polishing. The sol-gel-treated groups also exhibited significantly improved surface wettability. Representative fractographic observations further suggested distinct fracture characteristics between the surface treatment groups, with increased residual porcelain and mixed/cohesive fracture features observed in the sol-gel-treated groups. Conclusion: Sol-gel-based silica surface modification improved the mechanical performance of zirconia-porcelain bilayer systems under the present in vitro testing conditions and was associated with higher Weibull reliability than conventional alumina sandblasting. Clinical relevance: This study indicates that sol-gel-based silica surface modification may improve the mechanical performance and predictability of zirconia-porcelain bilayer systems. Further studies incorporating cyclic fatigue, thermocycling and hydrothermal aging are required to determine its long-term clinical relevance.
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BibTeX
@article{ryu2026silica,
title = {{Silica Surface Modification Enhances the Mechanical Reliability of Zirconia-Porcelain Bilayer Systems}},
author = {Jeong-Hyun Ryu and Jae Hoon Sim and Sang-Bae Lee and Heeseok Jeong and Sung-Hwan Choi and Min-Ho Hong},
journal = {International Dental Journal},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.identj.2026.111270},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2026.111270},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Silica Surface Modification Enhances the Mechanical Reliability of Zirconia-Porcelain Bilayer Systems
AU - Jeong-Hyun Ryu
AU - Jae Hoon Sim
AU - Sang-Bae Lee
AU - Heeseok Jeong
AU - Sung-Hwan Choi
AU - Min-Ho Hong
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - International Dental Journal
DO - 10.1016/j.identj.2026.111270
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2026.111270
AB - Introduction and aims: Zirconia-porcelain bilayer restorations commonly suffer from veneer chipping due to insufficient interfacial bonding and mechanical reliability. This study systematically compared alumina sandblasting with sol-gel-based silica surface modification in terms of the mechanical and interfacial performance of yttria-stabilised tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP)-porcelain systems. Methods: We treated zirconia specimens by alumina sandblasting or sol-gel silica surface modification and characterised them using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and contact angle measurements before porcelain veneering. After veneering, flexural strength and bonding strength were evaluated in accordance with ISO 9693:2019. We assessed mechanical reliability using Weibull analysis. We examined fracture surfaces by SEM and qualitatively evaluated surface topography using confocal laser microscopy. Results: Sol-gel-treated groups exhibited significantly higher flexural strength and bonding strength than the control or sandblasted groups and showed higher Weibull moduli. Representative SEM and EDS observations showed relatively uniform surface morphologies in the sol-gel-treated groups, with silicon remaining detectable after final polishing. The sol-gel-treated groups also exhibited significantly improved surface wettability. Representative fractographic observations further suggested distinct fracture characteristics between the surface treatment groups, with increased residual porcelain and mixed/cohesive fracture features observed in the sol-gel-treated groups. Conclusion: Sol-gel-based silica surface modification improved the mechanical performance of zirconia-porcelain bilayer systems under the present in vitro testing conditions and was associated with higher Weibull reliability than conventional alumina sandblasting. Clinical relevance: This study indicates that sol-gel-based silica surface modification may improve the mechanical performance and predictability of zirconia-porcelain bilayer systems. Further studies incorporating cyclic fatigue, thermocycling and hydrothermal aging are required to determine its long-term clinical relevance.
SN - 0020-6539
SN - 1875-595X
ER -