DENTAL INVESTMENTS
AND REFRACTORY
MATERIALS
Presented by-
Dr. Susovan Giri
CONTENTS
Introduction
Definition
Ideal requirements
Classifications
Composition
Gypsum bonded investments
Phosphate bonded investments
Silica bonded investments
Soldering investments
References
INTRODUCTION
When the wax pattern is to be reproduced in an alloy a
mould is made in a material which will withstand the
temperature at which these alloys melt.
The procedure of making such a mould is called
investing and the material used is the investment
material.
DEFINITION
An INVESTMENT
can be described as
a ceramic material
which is suitable for
forming a mold into
which molten metal
or alloy is cast.
IDEAL REQUIREMENTS
Easily manipulated and capable of reproducing
the size, shape and details recorded in the wax
pattern.
Sufficient strength at room temperature to
withstand the forces of molten metal.
Stability at high temperature and must not
decompose to give off gases that could damage
the surface of alloy.
IDEAL REQUIREMENTS
It should have sufficient setting,
hygroscropic, thermal expansion to
compensate for the shrinkage of cast
metal on cooling.
Should be porous to permit escape of
gasses from the mould cavity.
Ease of divestment.
Should be inexpensive.
CLASSIFICATIONS
A. Classification based on application (ISO
15912:2006)
Type 1: for the construction of inlays, crowns
and other fixed restorations
Type 2: for the construction of complete or
partial dentures or other removable appliances
Type 3: for the construction of casts used in
brazing procedures
Type 4: for the construction of refractory dies
CLASSIFICATIONS
B. Classification based on type of binder used
There are three types of investment materials based on the
binder used.
1. Gypsum bonded investments - They are used for casting
gold alloys. They can withstand temperature up to 700 °C.
2.Phosphate bonded investments - For metal ceramic and
cobalt-chromium alloys. They can withstand higher
temperatures.
3. Ethyl silica bonded investments - They are an alternative
to the phosphate bonded investments, for high temperature
casting. They are principally used in the casting of base
metal alloy partial dentures.
COMPOSITION
All investment materials contain a refractory, a
binder and modifiers.
Refractory
A refractory is a material that will withstand high
temperatures without decomposing or
disintegrating, e.g. silica.
COMPOSITION
Binder
A material which will set and bind together
the particles of refractory substance, e.g.
gypsum, phosphate and silicate.
Chemical modifiers
Chemicals such as sodium chloride, boric
acid, potassium sulfate, graphite, copper
powder or magnesium oxide are added in
small quantities to modify properties.
GYPSUM BONDED INVESTMENTS
COMPOSITION
◦ Silica is added as a refractory component.
◦ Binder: Alpha hemi hydrate. (Dental stone)
◦ Modifying agent: coloring agent and reducing
agent like C / Cu powder. They produce non
oxidizing atmosphere in the mould when gold
alloy is cast.
◦ Additives: Boric acid and Nacl to regulate
setting time and expansion, and to prevent
shrinkage of gypsum when heated above 3000C
SETTING TIME
According to ADA Sp. No. 2 for inlay investments,
setting time should not be less than 5 minutes and
not more than 25 minutes. The modern inlay
investments set initially in 9 to 18 minutes. This
provides sufficient time for mixing and investing
the pattern.
Factors controlling setting time
1. Manufacturing process
2. Mixing time and rate
3. Water-powder ratio
4. Temperature
5. Modifiers—accelerators and retarders
PROPERTIES
Thermal Behavior of Gypsum
When gypsum is heated above 700 °C, it
shows slight expansion and then great
amount of contraction.
The shrinkage is due to decomposition and
release of sulfur dioxide. It contaminates
the casting with the sulfides of silver and
copper.
So the gypsum bonded investments should
not be heated above 700 °C.
PROPERTIES
Thermal Behavior of Silica
When heated, quartz or cristobalite
changes its crystalline form. This
occurs at a transition temperature,
characteristic of the particular form
of silica.
PROPERTIES
Expansion
Expansion aids in enlarging the mold to
compensate for the casting shrinkage of the
gold alloys.
Three types of expansions may be seen
1. Normal setting expansion
2. Hygroscopic setting expansion
3. Thermal expansion
PROPERTIES
Normal setting expansion
A mixture of silica and dental stone results in a
setting expansion
The silica particles probably interfere with the
intermeshing of the crystals as they form. Thus,
the thrust of the crystals is outward during growth.
ADA Sp. No. 2 for Type-I investment permits a
maximum setting expansion in air of 0.5%.
Modern investments show setting expansion of
0.4%. It is regulated by retarders and accelerators
PROPERTIES
Hygroscopic setting expansion (HSE)
Occurs when the
gypsum product is
allowed to set under or
in contact with water
Can be obtained from
Hygroscopic setting expansion
◦ Water immersion technique
◦ Water added
◦ Wet ring liner
Greater magnitude
than the normal
setting expansion (> 6 times) Normal setting
expansion
PROPERTIES
Factors to Control Normal and Hygroscopic
Setting Expansion
Composition
◦ Proportional to the SiO2 content
◦ The finer the particle size of the SiO2, the greater
the hygroscopic expansion.
Water:Powder Ratio
◦ Higher W:P less expansion
Spatulation
◦ Insufficient spatulation decrease expansion
Shelf life of the investment
◦ Older investment lower expansion
PROPERTIES
Time of Immersion
◦ Delayed immersion decrease expansion
Water bath / Amount of Added Water
The magnitude of the expansion is in direct
proportion to the amount of water added
during the setting period until a maximum
expansion occurs.
PROPERTIES
Thermal expansion
In case of gypsum investments,
thermal expansion (TE)
is achieved by placing
the mold in a furnace
at a temperature not
greater than 700 °C .
PROPERTIES
Strength
According to ISO 15912:2006, the
compressive strength for investments
should not be less than 2 MPa when tested
2 hours after setting.
Storage
Investments should be stored in airtight
and moisture proof containers.
Purchase in small quantities.
USES
For casting of inlays, fixed partial
dentures, removable partial denture
frameworks using gold alloys and other
low-fusing alloys.
PHOSPHATE BONDED
INVESTMENTS
COMPOSITION
Powder
Ammonium diacid phosphate
NH4H2PO4
It gives strength at room temperature.
It reacts with silica at high
temperatures to increase strength at
casting temperatures.
Silica in the form of quartz or cristobalite
(80%) functions as refractory.
Magnesium oxide Reacts with phosphate
ions.
Carbon Some investments contain
carbon while others are carbon free.
Carbon helps to produce clean castings
and helps in easier divestment from the
mold.
COMPOSITION
Liquid
The phosphate bonded investments are
mixed with a special liquid supplied by
the
manufacturer. This liquid is a form of
silica sol in water, which gives higher
thermal expansion.
SETTING REACTION
At room temperature ammonium diacid
phosphate reacts with magnesium oxide to
give the investment green strength or room
temperature strength.
NH4H2PO4 + MgO + 5H2O NH4MgPO4.H2O
PROPERTIES
Expansion
Phosphate investments get their expansion
from three sources.
1. Wax pattern expansion - The heat during
setting allows a significant expansion of the
wax pattern.
2. Setting expansion - This is around 0.7 to
1%.
3. Thermal expansion - Ranges from
around 1 to 1.5%.
PROPERTIES
Strength
Regular investments are generally
materials of low strength. Wet strength
ranges from 4–10 MPa. Wet strength is
important for handling the set material
prior to casting.
Dry strength is the strength of the
investment under high temperatures.
PROPERTIES
Flow
Investments appear to have low flow
when mixed.
However, they flow readily and envelope
the pattern when poured into the mold
under vibration.
MANIPULATION
Powder/liquid ratio - 16 to 23
ml/100 gm.
The powder is mixed with a
measured amount of liquid using a
bowl and spatula.
Following hand mixing for 20
seconds mechanical mixing under
vacuum is done for a further 90
seconds
Working time is around 8-9 minutes.
The mixed material is vibrated into
the casting ring or agar mold (RPD
framework).
The material is allowed to bench set
for a minimum 30-45 minutes
depending on the particular
investment.
USES
For casting high fusing alloys, e.g. high
fusing noble metal alloys, metal ceramic
alloys and base metal alloys like nickel-
chromium and cobalt-chromium.
SILICA BONDED INVESTMENTS
These investments materials are used for casting
alloys which have high casting temperature.
They are used in the construction of the high
fusing base metal partial denture alloy.
This type of investment is losing popularity
because of more complicated and time
consuming procedures involved.
COMPOSITION
These investments are mixture of powder and
liquid.
Powder consists of refractory particles of
silica in various forms, plus Mgo.
These investments are supplied along with two
bottles of special liquid.
One bottle contains dilute water-soluble
silicate solution such as sodium silicate.
The other bottle usually contains diluted acid
solution such as hydrochloric acid.
SOLDERING
INVESTMENTS
TYPES
Based on the type of binder used brazing
investments are of two types.
1. Gypsum-bonded (for low melting
alloys)
2. Phosphate-bonded (for high melting
alloys)
COMPOSITION
The investment for soldering purpose is
similar to casting investments
containing quartz and
a calcium sulfate hemihydrate/or
phosphate binder.
PROPERTIE
S
Soldering investments are designed to have
lower setting (0.2%) and thermal expansions
(0.6–1%) than casting investments.
Soldering investments do not have as fine a
particle size as the casting investment, since
the smoothness of the mass is less important.
The compressive strength is generally low
(between 2 to 10 MPa).
Water-powder ratio ranges from 0.24 to 0.28.
Setting time ranges from 15 to 20 minutes.
USES
Joining segments of fixed partial dentures
Fixing clasps on cast RPDs.
Attaching precision attachments.
REFERENCES
Phillipsscience of dental materials 11th edn:
Anusavice
Applied dental materials 5th edn:
John N Anderson
Applied dental materials:
John F McCabe
Restorative dental materials:
Craig
Restorative dental materials:
Floyd A Peyton
