Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that glazing will affect the Weibull modulus or the mean flexural strength of dental porcelain. Four groups (n = 30) of specimens were prepared from feldspathic body porcelain (Vita VMK 68). The specimens were tested in groups: original glazed condition (control), and after grinding separately with 1,000-grit, 600-grit, and 100-grit silicon carbide abrasive. A three-point flexure test was undertaken for each specimen. The flexural strength of porcelain and the Weibull modulus were then obtained using a computer program and load-to-failure data. Flexural strength decreased as surface roughness increased, and the differences were significant (p < 0.05), as determined by Tukey’s multiple range test, except between the 600-grit group and the 100-grit group. The Weibull modulus of the glazed group was the largest (16.3), and the surface roughness was found to influence the Weibull modulus.
