Figure 3.

Graded zirconia. (a) Cross section of 3Y-TZP (3 mol% yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal) after surface infiltration with glass. Dark region at left is residual glass layer. Note change in microstructure near the surface to a net depth of ~150 µm (skin depth: 30 µm + penetration: depth 120 µm). (b) Profile of elastic modulus. Vertical dashed lines delineate glass-layer, graded, and core regions. (c) Fabricated anatomically correct crowns (left to right—ungraded white, graded white, graded tinted) and (d) fixed dental prosthesis framework (graded tinted). After Ren et al. (2011).