Preparation of Leucite Powder with Controlled c-Phase Fraction for a Variety of Dental Applications

Leucite (KAlSi2O6) is the main crystalline phase in feldspathic dental materials used for ceramic-fused-to-metal restorations. It occurs in two modifications, low temperature – tetragonal and at temperatures above 600 °C high temperature – cubic modification. The aim of this work was to develop a low-temperature preparation technology of submicron leucite powders with varying ratio of tetragonal and cubic modification. The results show that analcime synthesized in hydrothermal conditions is the suitable precursor for the preparation of leucite with controlled fraction of the c-modification. Homogenous t-leucite having particle size from 2 - 4 μm was prepared by 4h ion-exchange in 4M KCl. Partially stabilized c-leucite was obtained by dual ionexchange; 4h in 4M CsCl led to 48 % of c-modification in the final product.