Abstract
TiO2 is known to play a key role in the controlled crystallization of "bulk processed nepheline glasses''. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of adding TiO2 to a nepheline glass system made for powder processing to develop glass-ceramics for dental applications via the sinter-crystallization route. Three novel glass compositions based on the nepheline system were synthesized using the melt-quench method. Glasses were designed to contain 3.0 mole % TiO2, 6 mole % TiO2, and one glass made free of TiO2. Experimental glasses were ground into fine powders and then heat-treated at identical crystallization schedules. The addition of TiO2 hindered the densification process during the sinter-crystallization heat treatment. TiO2 free glass was found to sinter crystallize into a desirable material. In this study, the use of 3 mole % TiO2 and less was found to be effective in controlling the thermal properties without hindering the densification process during sinter crystallization.