Enamel porcelain: versatile, chipresistant, low hardness

Enamel porcelain is build-up of three different glass components that combined provide a robust chip-resistance and a low surface hardness. The first is a high melting glasscomponent containing leucite crystals, which act as stressbreakers and provide chip-resistance. The second glasscomponent is opalescent and the third a low-melting glasscomponent, that causes a hydrothermal surface gelation. The leucite crystalline content increases the load bearing capacity during chewing and makes Enamel porcelain chip-resistant. The low surface hardness is obtained by an exchange reaction with saliva, which creates a water-rich and soft surface layer, with a hardness similar to natural enamel (HV 450-470). Opalescence is the optical effect of blue absorption, causing an orange tinge, when light is passing through. When light falls on the tooth against a dark background we can see that blue is absorbed.