Fabrication of nanosized 3Y-TZP ceramic dental restoration frameworks on gypsum models by aqueous electrophoretic deposition

The feasibility of using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) as a technique to form nanosized zirconia dental restoration frameworks was evaluated and optimised. By using constant low temperature ultrasonic agitation and magnetic stirring, a 3Y-TZP nanopowder suspension with 75 wt-% solid content was obtained as the EPD starting suspension. High density [80% theoretical density (TD)] nanosized 3Y-TZP green bodies were fabricated by aqueous EPD with an input voltage of 30–40 V. High density (99˙9%TD) pure nanosized 3Y-TZP ceramic dental restoration frameworks were successfully achieved after 3 h of sintering at 1280°C. The crystalline structure of the framework was pure tetragonal phase zirconia, and the microstructure was very homogeneous with an average grain size of 230 nm. These results suggest that pure nanozirconia dental restoration frameworks could be near shape manufactured by aqueous EPD.