BACKGROUND: Polymer-infiltrated zirconia ceramic, benefiting from the synergistic effect of the ceramic matrix providing strength and the polymer enhancing toughness, has the potential to mimic the structure of natural teeth in its optical and mechanical properties. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of additives and various sintering temperatures on the optical and mechanical properties of zirconia ceramic matrix composites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Groups consisted of unmodified zirconia powder, and zirconia modified with porcelain and porogens to form the porous ceramic matrix. Three types of Tosoh zirconia powder, TZ-3YSB-E, Zpex, and Zpex Smile, were used to fabricate porous blocks. Zirconia powder and porcelain powder were ball-milled separately. Zirconia powder was dry pressed and then cold isostatic pressed. The blocks were sintered at 1000 and 1150 ºC and sectioned into discs (n=10). For zirconia with additives groups, 10% of Titankeramik and 5% of PEG8000 were mixed to zirconia powder using a high-speed mixer. The zirconia blocks were pressed and sintered at 1000, 1150, 1200 and 1300 ℃, and sectioned into discs (n=10). Porous discs were treated with a 10% wt solution of 10-MDP for 4 hours and then dried in a vacuum oven for 24 hours. TEGDMA-UDMA resin monomers were infiltrated into discs and cured at 90°C under pressure. Polymer-infiltrated ceramics specimens were polished to 1.5 mm in thickness. Optical properties were determined with an X-rite spectrophotometer. Biaxial flexural strength and Vickers indentation tests were performed using an Instron universal mechanical tester. Vickers hardness and indentation fracture toughness values were calculated by measuring the indent dimensions under FESEM, in addition to microstructure assessment. Statistical analyses were performed using computer software, Microsoft Excel 2016 and JMP Pro 15. RESULTS: This study revealed that the type of zirconia powder utilized for the fabrication of porous ceramics for polymer-infiltration structures did not significantly influence their optical properties. Mean values of fully sintered zirconia showed significantly higher biaxial flexural strength (628.5-1277.4 MPa) than polymer-infiltrated groups (105.4-433.6 MPa), with P-3Y1150 achieving the highest value. Higher pre-sintering temperature from 1000 ℃ to 1150 ℃ led to enhanced biaxial flexural strength for polymer-infiltrated pure zirconia specimens, with values rising from 126.5-158.2 MPa to 243.4-433.6 MPa. Adding porcelain and porogens did not significantly affect the optical or specific mechanical properties, such as biaxial flexural strength and Vickers hardness, despite increasing the sintering temperature to 1300 ℃. Nevertheless, a significant increase in indentation fracture toughness was noted with ZPTKPEG1200 (7.65±0.55 MPa·m1/2) and ZPTKPEG1300 (7.09±0.61 MPa·m1/2), values that were markedly higher than those in all control groups of fully sintered zirconia (p<0.001). Sintering temperature was found to be a key determinant in influencing the ceramic matrix's microstructure, porosity, and density, as well as the biaxial flexural strength, Vickers hardness, and indentation fracture toughness of polymer-infiltrated zirconia. While changes in temperature did not affect optical properties, and polymer infiltration did not enhance all attributes, it did substantially elevate the indentation fracture toughness in mixed zirconia samples with additives, offering a potential area for further research. CONCLUSION: The mechanical properties of polymer-infiltrated ceramics responded significantly to the sintering temperature and the type of zirconia powder utilized, most notably in the 3Y-TZSB-E group. A notable increased indentation fracture toughness was discernible when Zpex powder, mixed with additives, was subject to polymer infiltration and sintered at temperatures between 1200-1300 °C. Even though polymer infiltration and additive incorporation did not uniformly enhance all properties, a noticeable improvement in fracture toughness was observed. These findings open the door to future research, especially in potential applications of dental restorative materials that demand superior fracture toughness.