The impact of hydrofluoric acid surface treatments on the performance of a porcelain laminate restorative material

OBJECTIVES: Hydrofluoric (HF) acid etching increases the bond strength between composite resin and porcelain surfaces and has been advocated as a pre-cementation technique for ceramic restorations. The internal surface flaw distribution which is implicated in the premature failure of ceramic restorations is modified by the etching process and little agreement exists amongst researchers as to the appropriate etching regime. The purpose of the current study was to examine the impact of HF acid concentration and etching time on the performance of a low fusing feldspathic porcelain. METHODS: Sets of 30 Vitadur-Alpha dentin porcelain discs (15 mm diameter, 0.9 mm thickness) were etched with HF acid of three different concentrations (5, 10 and 20%) and for three different etching periods (45, 90 and 180s). Mean flexure strengths, standard deviations and the associated Weibull moduli (m) and characteristic stress (sigma(0)) were determined using bi-axial flexure (ball on ring). Contact profilometry was utilised to characterise the roughness of the etched porcelain surfaces. RESULTS: A univariate general linear analysis of means revealed a significant reduction in the mean strength values of the as-fired control compared with groups subjected to HF acid etching. Further significance (P