Abstract
The interaction of CO2, Nd:YAG, excimer and high-power diode laser (HPDL) radiation with the surface of an Al2O3/SiO2 based ceramic was found to effect significant changes in the wettability characteristics of the material. It was observed that interaction with CO2, Nd:YAG and HPDL radiation reduced the enamel contact angle from 118° to 31°, 34° and 33° respectively. In contrast, interaction with excimer laser radiation resulted an increase in the contact angle to 121°. Such changes were identified as being due to (i) the melting and partial vitrification of the Al2O3/SiO2-based ceramic surface as a result of interaction with CO2, Nd:YAG and HPDL radiation; (ii) the surface roughness of the Al2O3/SiO2-based ceramic increasing after interaction with excimer laser radiation; and (iii) the surface oxygen content of the Al2O3/SiO2-based ceramic increasing after interaction with CO2, Nd:YAG and HPDL radiation. The work has shown that the wettability characteristics of the Al2O3/SiO2-based ceramic could be controlled and/or modified by laser surface treatment, in particular, whether the laser radiation had the propensity to cause surface melting. However, a wavelength dependence of the change of the wetting properties could not be deduced from the findings of this work.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1075-1082 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 21 May 1999 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Acoustics and Ultrasonics
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films