The infiltration of partially sintered alumina (under different conditions) by lanthanum alumino-silicate glass and its relation to the three-point flexural strength were studied. The In-Ceram alumina bars, fractured by flexural test, were ground by sand-paper, polished, and characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A total of 10 bars have been used for each operational condition. Results: a) SEM confirmed that the inner region of the In-Ceram® alumina bars (sintered at 1120ºC for 2h) infiltrated at 1100ºC during 6h contain less lanthanum glass than that of alumina bar infiltrated by glass at 1110ºC for 6h; (b) The optical micrography confirmed that the cores of the In-Ceram® Alumina bars (sintered at 1120ºC for 2h) infiltrated during 6h (or 2h) at temperatures of 1100ºC, 1100ºC, 1120ºC and 1130ºC do not differ significantly each other; (c) The SEM showed that the internal microstructure of the In-Ceram® Alumina bars infiltrated with lanthanum glass at 1120ºC and 1130ºC is complex.
Dental ceramics; glass-infiltrated alumina; ceramographic analysis; three-point flexural strength
