Abstract

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 1180 to 310, 340 and 330
respectively. In contrast, interaction with excimer laser radiation resulted an increase in the
contact angle to 1210. 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 HPDL radiation. (ii) the surface roughness of the Al2O3/SiO2 based ceramic
increasing after interaction with excimer laser radiation. (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 with laser surface treatment. In particular, whether the laser
radiation had the propensity to cause surface melting. However, a wavelength dependance of
the change of the wetting properties could not be deduced from the findings of this work.