Preparation and chromaticity properties of colored dental 3Y-TZP ceramics

To obtain and investigate the chromaticity properties of colored dental 3Y-TZP ceramics with different colorant combinations. Colorant combinations were mixed with TZ-3Y-S powder, then the mixtures were compacted at 200 MPa using cold isostatic pressure, densely sintered at 1500 degrees C for 2 h forming 5 graded colored dental zirconia ceramics. Specimen were sectioned into 10 mm x 10 mm x 0.5 mm and 10 mm x l0 mmx 1 mm slices from the sintered blocks. Color measurement was performed under black background using spectrophotometer. The chromaticity properties were compared with that of the VITA In-Ceram YZ shade guide. Five colored dental zirconia ceramics were obtained. The lightness decreased gradually, and the chroma value increased gradually. The color differences of the two thickness specimens were little. The parameters of the color space were L*: 67.76-77.78; a*: -2.19-3.80; b*: 12.13-25.01, which was similar with that of the VITA In-Ceram YZ shade guide, while the lowest value of lightness was relativ