Materials for the ips e.max cad-on technique – Ivoclar Vivadent IPS e.max CAD-on User Manual
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IPS e.max CAD
IPS e.max CAD is a lithium disilicate glass-ceramic 
block for the CAD/CAM technique. It is manu-
factured using an innovative process which 
 provides an impressive homogeneity of the material. 
The block can be processed very easily in a CAD/
CAM unit in this crystalline intermediate stage 
(metasilicate). The typical and striking colour of  
IPS e.max CAD ranges from whitish to blue and 
bluish-grey. This shade is a result of the composi-
tion and the microstructure of the glass-ceramic. 
The strength of the material in this processable 
intermediate phase is 130–150 MPa. 
The crystallization takes places in a combined  
IPS e.max CAD-on Fusion/Crystallization firing in 
an Ivoclar Vivadent ceramic furnace (e.g. 
Programat
®
P700). This leads to a change in the
microstructure in the IPS e.max CAD material,  
during of which lithium disilicate crystals grow. The 
final physical properties, such as the flexural 
strength of 360 MPa, and the desired optical 
 properties are achieved through the transformation 
of the microstructure.
IPS e.max ZirCAD
IPS e.max ZirCAD is a pre-sintered yttrium- 
stabilized zirconium oxide block for the CAD/CAM 
technique. The blocks are available both shaded 
and unshaded. IPS e.max ZirCAD can be processed 
very easily in a CAD/CAM unit in its partly sintered, 
"chalk-like" state. Milling is carried out with an 
enlargement of the framework of approximately 
20–25%. Given the controlled manufacturing 
process of the blocks, combined with an coordi-
nated sintering process in a high temperature 
 furnace (e.g. Programat S1) the shrinkage of the 
enlarged milled frameworks can be controlled in 
such a way that excellent accuracy of fit can be 
achieved. During the sintering procedure, the final 
material-specific properties of IPS e.max ZirCAD 
are achieved. In the process, a structure that is 
densified to more than 99% is created, which 
 features a high flexural strength (>900 MPa) com-
bined with high fracture toughness (5.5 MPa m
0.5
)
and thus fully meets the clinical requirements 
 presented by masticatory forces – particularly in 
the posterior region.
   
 
CTE (100-400°C) [10
-6
/K]
10.2
CTE (100-500°C) [10
-6
/K]
10.5
Flexural strength (biaxial) [MPa]*
360
Fracture toughness [MPa m
0.5
]
2.25
Modulus of elasticity [GPa]
95
Vickers hardness [MPa]
5800
Chem. solubility [µg/cm
2
]*
40
Crystallization temperature [°C]
840 – 850
*according to ISO 6872
Materials for the IPS e.max CAD-on technique
   
 
CTE (100-400°C) [10
-6
/K]
10.8
CTE (100-500°C) [10
-6
/K]
10.8
Flexural strength (biaxial) [MPa]*
900
Fracture toughness [MPa m
0.5
]
5.5
Vickers hardness [MPa]
13000
Chem. solubility [µg/cm
2
]*
1
Sinter temperature [°C]
1500
*according to ISO 6872
