Effects of sintering additives and sintering methods on the mechanical, antimicrobial and optical properties of Si < sub > 3 < /sub > N < sub > 4 < /sub > bioceramics

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2024 Mar 26;154:106529. doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2024.106529. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTSi3N4 bioceramics were fabricated using GPS and SPS method with MgO-RE2O3 (RE = La, Nd, Gd, Ho and Lu) sintering additives. The effect of sintering methods and sintering additives on the grain growth, mechanical, antimicrobial properties and color of Si3N4 bioceramics were studied. Samples sintered with GPS are composed of β-Si3N4 and samples sintered with SPS are composed of α-Si3N4 and β-Si3N4. The growth of β-Si3N4 grains in samples sintered with GPS are more adequate. Samples sintered with GPS exhibit a S. aureus inactivation rate up to 98% and a bright color appearance with a hardness of about 13 GPa and a fracture toughness up to 7.5 MPa m1/2, suitable for dental implants. And samples sintered with SPS exhibit a hardness of about 17 GPa and a fracture toughness about 6 MPa m1/2.PMID:38552335 | DOI:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2024.106529
Source: Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials - Category: Materials Science Authors: Source Type: research