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Fracture processes and mechanisms of crack growth resistance in human enamel

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Abstract

Human enamel has a complex micro-structure that varies with distance from the tooth’s outer surface. But contributions from the microstructure to the fracture toughness and the mechanisms of crack growth resistance have not been explored in detail. In this investigation the apparent fracture toughness of human enamel and the mechanisms of crack growth resistance were evaluated using the indentation fracture approach and an incremental crack growth technique. Indentation cracks were introduced on polished surfaces of enamel at selected distances from the occlusal surface. In addition, an incremental crack growth approach using compact tension specimens was used to quantify the crack growth resistance as a Junction of distance from the occlusal surface. There were significant differences in the apparent toughness estimated using the two approaches, which was attributed to the active crack length and corresponding scale of the toughening mechanisms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Devendra Bajaj & Saejin Park

  2. National Institutes of Standards and Technology, Galthersburg, MD, USA

    George D. Quinn

  3. Department of Orthopedics, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA

    Devendra Bajaj

  4. Department of Endodontics, Prosthodontlcs, and Operative Dentistry, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Dwayne Arola

Authors
  1. Devendra Bajaj
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  2. Saejin Park
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  3. George D. Quinn
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  4. Dwayne Arola
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Correspondence to Dwayne Arola.

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Bajaj, D., Park, S., Quinn, G.D. et al. Fracture processes and mechanisms of crack growth resistance in human enamel. JOM 62, 76–82 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-010-0113-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-010-0113-8

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