Wettability characteristics of an Al2O3/SiO2-based ceramic modified with CO2, Nd:YAG, excimer and high-power diode lasers

摘要

Interaction of CO2, Nd:YAG, excimer and high power diode laser (HPDL) radiation with theudsurface of an Al2O3/SiO2 based ceramic was found to effect significant changes in theudwettability characteristics of the material. It was observed that interaction with CO2, Nd:YAGudand HPDL radiation reduced the enamel contact angle from 1180 to 310, 340 and 330udrespectively. In contrast, interaction with excimer laser radiation resulted an increase in theudcontact angle to 1210. Such changes were identified as being due to: (i) the melting and partialudvitrification of the Al2O3/SiO2 based ceramic surface as a result of interaction with CO2,udNd:YAG HPDL radiation. (ii) the surface roughness of the Al2O3/SiO2 based ceramicudincreasing after interaction with excimer laser radiation. (iii) the surface oxygen content of theudAl2O3/SiO2 based ceramic increasing after interaction with CO2, Nd:YAG and HPDL radiation.udThe work has shown that the wettability characteristics of the Al2O3/SiO2 based ceramic couldudbe controlled and/or modified with laser surface treatment. In particular, whether the laserudradiation had the propensity to cause surface melting. However, a wavelength dependance ofudthe change of the wetting properties could not be deduced from the findings of this work.