Isothermal Anneal Effect on Leucite Content in Dental Porcelains

Porcelain thermal expansion behavior is a function of leucite content, and leucite changes can produce porcelain-metal incompatibilities. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether isothermal anneal treatments (such as are encountered during "post-soldering" operations) could result in alterations of leucite content of dental porcelain. Six commercial dental porcelains and the "Component No. 1" frit of the Weinstein et al. patent (1962) were studied. Twenty-eight coupon specimens of each porcelain were fired and divided randomly into seven groups of four specimens each. One group served as a control, while the other six groups were subjected to isothermal anneal treatments-three groups at 500°C and three groups at 750°C, for 4, 8, and 16 min, respectively. Leucite volume fraction was measured via quantitative x-ray diffraction. From an equation for the growth of particles in competition for diffusing material, an expression was derived for the potential simultaneous processes of leucite cry...