The effectiveness of non-thermal plasma (NTP) in improving the bond strength of different resin cements to different glass ceramics under various surface treatment protocols remains unclear. Moreover, the influence of specific plasma devices and the material-dependent response of ceramic-resin cement systems to NTP have not been sufficiently investigated. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of NTP on the shear bond strength of different resin cements to different glass ceramics by comparatively assessing multiple surface treatment protocols. A total of 240 specimens of each glass ceramic group (IPS e.max CAD (E), Vitamark II (V)) were divided into 24 groups according to the combination of 6 surface treatments ((control), hydrofluoric acid (HF)+ceramic primer (Pr), Pr, HF+plasma (Pl) + Pr, Pl + Pr, and Pl) and two different resin cements (Single Bond+RelyX Ultimate (R) and ZenitCem (Z)). NTP was applied with an AC microsecond pulse power supply (5kHz, 20kV, 90s). Specimens were cemented to composite cylinders. After storage in an oven, SBS was measured. The results were analyzed using three-way ANOVA, post-hoc tests, and targeted pairwise comparisons, with the significance level set at α = 0.05. The effectiveness of NTP is material- and cement-dependent and should be considered as a selective surface modification strategy rather than a universal alternative to conventional surface treatments. The V-Pl-Z group showed significantly higher SBS values than the V-Z group, and these values were within the clinically acceptable range (p < 0.05). In the V groups treated with HF + Pr and HF + Pl+Pr, R demonstrated higher bond strength values than Z. HF surface treatment increased the SBS values for all groups (p < 0.05). The effectiveness of NTP is material- and cement-dependent and should be considered as a selective surface modification strategy rather than a universal alternative to conventional surface treatments CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates that atmospheric non-thermal plasma does not universally enhance ceramic-resin cement bonding. Its effectiveness depends on the ceramic substrate, resin cement type, and surface treatment protocol. Clinicians should therefore apply plasma selectively.

Impact of repressing and thermomechanical fatigue on color stability and translucency of IPS Emax and Celtra press: an in vitro study

Enhanced 2.9 μm emission in Dy3+/Yb3+ co-doped fluorosilicate glass ceramics with KY3F10 nanocrystals

Developing glass ceramics (GCs) with ultrahigh crystallinity and excellent optical transparency remains a formidable challenge due to the intrinsic trade-off between crystalline volume fraction and grain boundary light scattering. Herein, a Li+- doping mediated topological network regulation strategy is developed to address this dilemma in MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 transparent GCs (TGCs). Combined experimental characterizations and molecular dynamics simulations confirm that Li+ acts as a network modifier to relax the rigid tetrahedral framework, tailor Al coordination, and optimize crystallization kinetics. This boosts crystallinity from 5.6 to 97.0vol% (near-full crystallinity) while retaining high transparency via refractive index matching between the crystal and residual glass. Eu2+-activated high-crystallinity TGCs exhibit superior multifunctional optical performance, including a high internal quantum efficiency of 63%, good resistance to thermal quenching (82% intensity retention at 150°C), and a high x-ray light yield of 5740photons/MeV. Their practical applicability is further validated for high-power indoor/horticultural lighting and high-resolution x-ray scintillation. This work establishes a universal topological engineering paradigm for the rational design of glass network topologies, which provides a new solution to the transparency-crystallinity trade-off in GCs and paves the way for next-generation high-performance TGCs-based optoelectronic devices.

The purpose of this article is to take away some of the mystery associated with understanding the phenomenon of negative thermal expansion (NTE) in isotropic crystals. For sure, NTE is counter to our textbook intuition about the normal positive thermal expansion of chemical bonds, but there are now sufficient results from experimental and theoretical investigations to enable us to rationalise the existence of NTE in materials with cubic symmetry, and indeed to be able to predict its possible existence in any new material. In this article, we posit that there are four principles that can enable us to rationalise the origin of NTE in any cubic crystal: the existence of a network structure, the ability of the structure to support low-frequency vibrations, the spreading of the important vibrations into a sufficiently large volume of reciprocal space, and the limiting factor of dynamic disorder. We describe these with regard to a number of key examples. We point out that the same principles will operate for anisotropic crystals, but we offer the caution that NTE in anisotropic materials can also arise from factors missing in isotropic materials. We also point out that NTE arises in the face of competing mechanisms that ordinarily would give positive thermal expansion, so the practical existence of NTE arises as a balance between mechanisms pulling in opposite directions. We therefore argue that one should not point to a single simple mechanism for NTE. Instead, NTE is associated with the four principles together with chemical effects that can tilt how these principles are balanced against the drive of the chemical bonds towards positive thermal expansion. We present a practical way to understand these principles applied to the recently identified NTE material NaZr2(PO4)3. There is a long-standing and well-demonstrated importance of glass ceramics for many technical and domestic applications, which practically achieve many of the goals of the NTE materials community. In the light of this, it is our feeling that the key achievement of much of NTE research over the past 30 years has not so much been in terms of finding alternative NTE materials as in what we have been able to learn from these materials, which in turn has enabled us to elucidate the general principles that underpin our understanding of how NTE materials work.

This study investigated the influence of simulated brushing and staining thermocycling on surface roughness and color stability of different types of CAD/CAM laminate veneers ceramic materials. Forty-eight square-shaped specimens were created using two types of CAD/CAM glass ceramics (ALDS, CEREC Tessera, Dentsply Sirona, and ZLS, Vita Suprinity, Vita Zahn Fabrik), each material group was divided into two subgroups (N = 12) according to surface finishing protocols. Surface roughness (Ra) and color parameters were measured initially, after 6 months and 1 year of brushing simulation and Coffee/Tobacco thermocycling. Data was collected and statistically analyzed using Wald-type ANOVA, and post-hoc simple effects of estimated marginal means were compared using Wald tests with Sidak adjustment. For surface roughness, all the main effects and their interactions were not statistically significant, according to ANOVA (P > 0.05). Color change results (∆E) showed that after one year of tooth brushing simulation and C/T thermocycling, Tessera finished subgroup had a significantly higher mean value (16.95 ± 3.06) than Vita Suprinity finished subgroup (6.67 ± 1.85) (p < 0.001), and the effect size was large, 0.51. While Tessera glazed subgroup had a higher non-significant mean value (7.03 ± 0.64) than Vita Suprinity glazed subgroup (6.06 ± 2.34), (p = 0.188), and the effect size was small, 0.02. All tested ceramics showed acceptable surface roughness values; however, tooth brushing combined with C/T thermocycling caused discoloration especially in finished Tessera CAD/CAM materials. The color change (∆E) of the two laminate veneer materials, under different surface treatments, exceeded the clinically acceptable range.

IntroductionThe advancement of indirect ceramic restorations helps to establish new boundaries between conservative practices and prosthetics, thus Vonlay restorations were introduced to achieve the desired results in cases that involve the occlusal surface and extends to entire buccal surface due to either esthetic or functional considerations.Aim of the studyThis in vitro study evaluated the fracture resistance and failure modes of ceramic vonlay restorations fabricated from four CAD/CAM materials: lithium disilicate, zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate, super high-translucent zirconia, and polymer-infiltrated ceramic after cyclic loading.Materials and methodsFifty-six extracted human maxillary premolars were prepared and restored with vonlays from lithium disilicate glass ceramics (control group), zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS), ultra-translucent monolithic zirconia, and polymer-infiltrated ceramic networks (PICNs) (n = 14/group). Restorations were milled, finished, and adhesively luted with dual-cure resin cement. All specimens underwent 500,000 cycles of mechanical loading (100 N, 1 Hz) before static fracture testing. Failure modes were assessed microscopically. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Tukey’s post hoc, and Chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests (α = 0.05).ResultsUltra-translucent monolithic zirconia showed the highest fracture resistance, followed by lithium disilicate glass ceramics and zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS) while polymer-infiltrated ceramic networks (PICNs) showed the lowest values (p < 0.001). Failure patterns differed significantly among groups (p = 0.005), with polymer-infiltrated ceramic networks (PICNs) having more restorable failures.ConclusionCeramic material significantly influences the mechanical performance of vonlay restorations. High-strength ceramics, such as lithium disilicate glass ceramics, ultra-translucent monolithic zirconia, offer superior resistance and clinical predictability in premolars under cyclic loading.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-026-08493-2.

Glass ceramics are supposed to offer the potential of retaining the high permittivity of ceramics, and at the same time exhibiting high dielectric breakdown strength (DBS), thus producing high dielectric energy storage performance in bulk material. Nonetheless, to date, it still remains a big challenge to achieve high energy storage density in glass ceramics compared to other dielectric energy storage materials. Herein, we conceived and fabricated a new type of BaTiO3-based glass ceramics with nanoscale polymorphic structure in a single nano-grain formed by Ge-ions simultaneous substitution of A and B sites during crystallization. It has been found that appropriate GeO2 doping concentration will form nanoscale spontaneous polarization vortex domains in a single nano-grain, which enhances polarization, efficiency, and DBS. As a result, excellent energy storage performance is achieved, with a high recoverable energy density (Wrec) of 10.08 J cm-3 with high energy storage efficiency of 91.3% and high charge-discharge energy storage density (Wd) of 8.84 J cm-3 under 1500kV cm-1. It also exhibits ultrahigh hardness (10.2GPa). This work shows the potential applications of BaTiO3-based glass ceramics in high and pulsed power devices and provides a strategy for designing advanced dielectric glass ceramics.

Enhancement of phase formation and properties in Li2CO3-doped La2O3-Al2O3-SiO2 glass ceramics for LTCC applications

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 500mN peak load and 2mN/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.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the masking ability of different thicknesses of advanced lithium disilicate (ALDS) ceramic used for implant-supported crowns compared to conventional lithium disilicate (LDS) and to assess the influence of their combination with various implant abutment materials. Methods: Two types of high-translucency computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) glass–ceramics in shade A2 were tested: IPS e.max CAD (LDS) and CEREC Tessera (ALDS). Each material was sectioned into four thicknesses (n = 8 per group). Four implant abutments were evaluated: titanium (Ti), yellow-anodized titanium (TiY), pink-anodized titanium (TiP), and white zirconia (Zir). The translucency parameter (TP00) and color difference (ΔE00) between the glass–ceramic and abutment were calculated using the CIEDE2000 formula. Results: Significant differences were observed between 1.0 mm and 2.5 mm thicknesses in all groups except for ALDS on TiY. Both glass–ceramics on TiY and TiP showed lower ΔE00 values than those on Ti, except for 2.0 mm and 2.5 mm ALDS. Additionally, their ΔE00 values were lower than those on Zir. Clinically acceptable ΔE00 values occurred for 2.5 mm LDS on TiP, 2.0 mm ALDS on TiY and TiP, and 2.5 mm ALDS on TiY and TiP. ALDS demonstrated lower TP00 values than LDS at corresponding thicknesses. Conclusions: Greater restoration thickness and titanium anodization improved color masking. Anodized titanium enhanced the glass–ceramic masking ability. ALDS at 2.0–2.5 mm on TiY or TiP and 2.5 mm LDS on TiP achieved clinically acceptable masking, with ALDS showing lower translucency than LDS.

To evaluate the mechanical properties of lithium disilicates, and to assess the predictive capability of in silico models for biaxial flexural strength (BFS). Specimens of four heat-pressed lithium disilicates (IPS e.max Press, Rosetta SP, LiSi Press, Vintage Prime Press) were obtained. Microstructural and crystalline evaluations, hardness, and fracture toughness were assessed. In vitro BFS was performed, and in silico nonlinear dynamic finite element analysis (FEA) for BFS was conducted. Weibull statistics were used to determine characteristic strength [σ0] and Weibull modulus [m]. Different crystal sizes/shapes were observed depending on the material, while characteristic peaks corresponding to lithium disilicate and lithium phosphate crystals were revealed in all groups. Vintage Prime presented the highest fracture toughness, followed by Rosetta, LiSi Press, and e.max Press. Rosetta demonstrated lower σ0 than Vintage Prime and LiSi Press, whereas e.max Press demonstrated similar values to all materials. Vintage Prime demonstrated the highest m among the materials. Similar load-displacement curves from in vitro and in silico BFS were obtained for all materials. Vintage Prime exhibited higher fracture toughness and m compared to the other materials. The BFS and FEA results were consistent, reinforcing the FEA value as a complementary analytical tool for interpreting material behavior under controlled conditions.

ABSTRACT The importance of glass and glass–ceramic nuclear waste forms has been reaffirmed in recent years by the growing interest in nuclear power as a reliable energy source. Determination of processing methods for the disposal of halide‐containing wastes will be essential for the advancement of nuclear technologies such as non‐aqueous fuel reprocessing. Phosphate‐based dechlorination and subsequent vitrification of radioactive salt waste into an iron‐phosphate waste form have been identified as a potential processing scheme for electrochemical processing waste. The impact of H 3 PO 4 ‐based dechlorination of complex salt mixtures on the vitrification process and structure of the final iron‐phosphate waste form has not yet been investigated. In this work, iron‐phosphate glass–ceramics were made from simulant salt waste (48LiCl–33KCl–19NaCl mol%) dechlorinated with the H 3 PO 4 ‐based method. The glass‐forming region was compared to that of traditionally prepared Na 2 O–Fe 2 O 3 –P 2 O 5 systems. For a candidate glass‐forming composition, the processing scheme presented here was determined to favor Fe 3+ species. The O/P molar ratio was consistent for the candidate composition when dechlorinated at 400°C and 600°C in air and argon environments, indicating glass network connectivity was maintained despite variations in processing parameters. The results presented here validate processing schemes requiring iron‐phosphate waste form synthesis following H 3 PO 4 ‐based dechlorination.

Background/Objectives: Bioceramic scaffolds with complex geometries and customized mechanical and biological properties can now be produced via 3D printing, revolutionizing dental and maxillofacial tissue engineering. This review discusses the recent progress in 3D printing technologies applied to bioceramic scaffolds for dental and maxillofacial reconstruction. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2026 were considered for inclusion. Several 3D printing methods can be used to create bioceramic or composite scaffolds for the regeneration of dental, oral, or maxillofacial tissues. Results: Additive manufacturing enables customization of bioceramic scaffolds. This report emphasizes the osteoconductive properties, biodegradability, and compatibility of calcium phosphate, bioactive glass, and calcium silicate ceramics. Conclusions: This review helps to determine how 3D-printed bioceramics can be optimized for dental and maxillofacial applications tailored to specific patients.

Titanium-extracted tailing is a by-product generated during titanium-bearing blast furnace slag treatment process. The crystallization behavior of the titanium-extracted tailing during the cooling process is significant to its utilization for glass ceramics preparation. In this work, the CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO-TiO2-FeO slag was used to explore the effect of CaO/SiO2 ratios on titanium-extracted tailing crystallization. FactSage 8.2 calculation and mineralogical characterizations were conducted to investigate the phase and microstructure evolution during the slag cooling process. Single hot thermocouple technique (SHTT) was employed for in situ observation of the crystallization process of the slag during the cooling process. The obtained results indicated that the perovskite, melilite, spinel, diopside and anorthite phases would be crystallized during the cooling process when the CaO/SiO2 ratios of the slag were 0.7-1.1. Increasing the CaO/SiO2 ratio to 1.3 and 1.5 promoted the crystallization of olivine and merwinite phases, however, inhibited the crystallization of diopside and anorthite phases. The initial crystallization temperature and the liquid phase disappeared temperature of the slag enhanced with improving CaO/SiO2 ratios. The initial crystallization temperature was controlled by perovskite phase precipitation when the CaO/SiO2 ratios of slag reached 0.7-1.3. Whereas the initial crystallization temperature was controlled by the crystallization of spinel phase when the CaO/SiO2 ratio of slag was 1.5. The incubation time for crystal nucleation reduced with increasing CaO/SiO2 ratios that promoted slag crystallization. Moreover, increasing the CaO/SiO2 ratio from 0.7 to 1.5 enhanced the critical cooling rate from 4 °C s-1 to 11 °C s-1.

Nanocrystalline materials are the basis of many novel engineered systems, including batteries, nanocomposites, and glass ceramics. Three-dimensional electron diffraction (3D ED) has become a key technique for structural analysis of such materials, offering clear advantages over conventional X-ray diffraction. Commercial routine 3D ED acquisition allowing for measurements of crystals down to ∼750 nm is now standard, but pushing the measurable size towards a few tens of nanometers introduces new challenges, requiring robust crystal-tracking methods. At this scale, TEM automation, reliable object detection, and high mechanical precision of the goniometer are essential. PyFast-ADT is introduced as a modular automation framework for 3D ED data collection, extending the measurable size range through improved crystal tracking routines. Its Python architecture enhances shareability and promotes facility automation within the 3D ED and Cryo-EM communities. The PatchworkCC algorithm combines Cross-Correlation with Kalman Filtering to achieve fully automatic crystal tracking with improved accuracy and minimal user supervision. Characterization of goniometer reproducibility revealed a rapid decrease behaviour degrading precision, addressed by the HiPerGonio procedure, which stabilizes performance and supports optimal TEM/sample holder choices. Together, these developments enable fully automated 3D ED data collection on 25 nm nanocrystals embedded in a glass-ceramic matrix, increasing throughput up to sixfold and advancing reproducible, high-throughput structure determination at the nanometer scale.

This systematic review with network meta-analysis (NMA) evaluated whether three-dimensional (3D) printed resin-based composites (RBCs) intended for long-term dental restorations perform similarly or superiorly to conventional restorative materials. The review followed the PRISMA extension for NMA. Six electronic databases were searched up to November 2025. In vitro studies assessing at least one commercially available 3D-printed RBC for long-term dental restorations and at least one conventional restorative material were eligible. Methodological quality was assessed using the RoBDEMAT tool, and data were synthesized using Bayesian NMA. From 2299 records, 50 studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 40 were included in the meta-analyses. Across mechanical, physical, reproducibility, and optical outcomes, 3D-printed RBCs generally performed similarly to or worse than most conventional materials. However, they demonstrated superior marginal and internal fit compared with glass ceramics, polymer-infiltrated ceramic networks, and polymeric restoratives, except when compared with direct RBCs, indicating enhanced dimensional accuracy. Although 3D printing achieved superior trueness and internal/marginal fit relative to most conventional restorative materials, the inferior mechanical performance, suboptimal microstructural characteristics, and limited optical stability of 3D-printed resins underscore the need for improvements in material formulation, post-curing strategies, and finishing and polishing protocols. At present, 3D-printed resins for long-term single-unit restorations do not yet match the overall performance of established conventional restorative systems.

Preparation, crystallization kinetics and cycled thermal performance of the steel slag-based glass ceramics

Dielectric tailoring and recycling–regeneration strategy for degradable BaTiO3–added BaO–SrO–Al2O3–SiO2–B2O3 multiphase glass–ceramics

A state-of-the-art review on chairside CAD/CAM ceramic materials in restorative dentistry.