In-situ nanomechanical responses of zirconia-containing lithium silicate glass-ceramics

Juri AZ, Belli R, De Souza G, Lohbauer U, Nakanishi Y, Yin L (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials Elsevier

Book Volume: 177

Pages Range: 107365-

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2026.107365

Abstract

The high hardness and low fracture toughness of zirconia-containing lithium silicate glass ceramics (ZLS) leads to dominant brittle fracture behaviour, which prompts extensive surface and subsurface cracking during machining, reducing long-term stability of dental restorations. This study evaluated the in-situ nanoindentation behaviour of this material class aiming to describe the real-time deformation response and nanomechanical mechanisms of cracking in ZLS according to their crystallized state. The in-situ nanoindentation tests on polished pre-crystallized and crystallized ZLS (Vita Suprinity PC, Vita Zahnfabrik, Germany) were performed inside a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at 500 mN peak load and 2 mN/s loading rate. SEM images were taken at different stages of loading-unloading cycles to correlate morphological responses to force-displacement events in real-time. Pop-in events in force displacement curves were matched to edge chipping in pre-crystallized state and to radial cracking in crystallized ZLS. Although both pre-crystallized and crystallized ZLS materials exhibited brittle fracture behavior under indentation, their microstructural responses revealed distinct fracture mechanisms. In the pre-crystallized ZLS, the brittle fracture was accompanied by edge chipping, rupture and radial cracks. In contrast, crystallized ZLS had shear-band, pile up, and radial cracks. Pre-crystallized ZLS had significantly lower hardness, Young's modulus, resistance to machining-induced cracking, and maximum shear stress compared with the crystallized state. Further, the larger indentation imprint volume observed in the pre-crystallized ZLS suggests higher material removal efficiency during machining. This study highlights the microstructure-property dependence of ZLS materials, providing valuable insights into their micromechanics upon abrasive machining.

Authors with CRIS profile

Renan Belli Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology Ulrich Lohbauer Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology

Involved external institutions

University of Adelaide AU Australia (AU) University at Buffalo. State University of New York (SUNY Buffalo) US United States (USA) (US) Kumamoto University / 熊本大学 JP Japan (JP)

How to cite

APA:

Juri, A.Z., Belli, R., De Souza, G., Lohbauer, U., Nakanishi, Y., & Yin, L. (2026). In-situ nanomechanical responses of zirconia-containing lithium silicate glass-ceramics. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 177, 107365-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2026.107365

MLA:

Juri, Afifah Z., et al. "In-situ nanomechanical responses of zirconia-containing lithium silicate glass-ceramics." Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 177 (2026): 107365-.

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