This study evaluated the effect of distinct surface treatments on the
fatigue behavior (biaxial flexural
fatigue testing) and surface characteristics (topography and roughness) of a 5% mol
yttria partially stabilized
zirconia ceramic (5Y-PSZ). Disc-shaped specimens of 5Y-PSZ (IPS e.max ZirCAD MT Multi) were manufactured (ISO 6872-2015) and allocated into six groups (n = 15) considering the following surface treatments: Ctrl - no-treatment; GLZ - low-fusing
porcelain glaze application; SNF - 5 nm SiO2 nanofilm; AlOx -
aluminum oxide particle air-abrasion; SiC -
silica-coated
aluminum oxide particles (
silica-coating); and 7%Si - 7%
silica-coated
aluminum oxide particles (
silica-coating). The biaxial flexural
fatigue tests were performed by the step-stress method (20Hz for 10,000 cycles) with a step increment of 50N starting at 100N and proceeding until failure detection. The samples were tested with the treated surface facing down (tensile stress side). Topography, fractography, roughness, and phase content assessments of treated specimens were performed. GLZ group presented the highest
fatigue behavior, while AlOx presented the lowest performance, and was only similar to SiC and 7%Si. Ctrl and SNF presented intermediary
fatigue behavior, and were also similar to SiC and 7%Si. GLZ promoted a rougher surface, Ctrl and SNF had the lowest roughness, while the air-abrasion groups presented intermediary roughness. No m-phase content was detected (only t and c phases were detected). In conclusion, the application of a thin-layer of low-fusing
porcelain glaze, the deposition of
silica nanofilms and the air-abrasion with
silica-coated
alumina particles had no detrimental effect on the
fatigue behavior of the 5Y-PSZ, while the air-abrasion with
alumina particles damaged the
fatigue outcomes.