Dental casting alloys
Cast Base Metal Alloys
II. Types:
a. Cobalt
- Used interchangeably with nickel
- It modulus of elasticity, strength, & hardness
b. Chromium
- Resistance to tarnish & corrosion by formation of passive layer. (thin uniform non porous and
adherent layer of chromium oxide).
- A minimum of 12% chromium is required to form this passive layer.
- A maximum of 30% chromium is to limit of solubility of chromium in cobalt.
- More chromium produce a highly brittle phase known as sigma -phase.
c. Nickel
- Used interchangeably with cobalt
- It modulus of elasticity,strength, & hardness, but to lesser degree than cobalt
- It ductility
- Nickel free cobalt chromium are used in some patients have allergy from nickel.
d. Molybdenum
- It acts as grain refiner so strength
e. Silicon and Manganese
- Act as deoxidizers
- Fluidity of alloy so improving its castability.
f. Carbon (0.2%):
- Carbon can combine with any elements to form carbides at grain boundaries
- Precipitation of these carbides strength & hardness.
- Any change in the carbon percent changes the properties
- A decrease by 0.2% strength & hardness.
- An increase by 0.2% too hard & brittle alloy. (continuous carbide formation at grain boundaries)
- So care should be taken that no excess carbon is absorbed during casting of alloy.
Dr/A.R 6
Dental casting alloys
g. Aluminum:
- Aluminum & nickel form Nickel Aluminite.
- This compound strength.
e. Beryllium 1%:
- It lowers the melting range of the alloy by 100C.
- It fluidity so castability.
- Beryllium vapor is carcinogenic to the technician, leading to the fibrosis of the Lungs so
free beryllium alloys are introduced.
f. Tungsten → ↑density so ↑ castability
3) Commercially pure titanium & titanium alloys:
- They are present in 4 grades (grade 4 is the strongest).
- They are present in 2 phases:
α- phase β-phase
Exist at Room temperature High temperature 883oC.
Properties Weak & ductile Strong & brittle
Stabilizer Aluminum Copper, Palladium and
Vanadium.
N.B: they most common alloy for dental use is titanium, 6 Aluminum, 4 Vanadium.
- low density, high modulus & high strength also biocompatible
- Used in implant, crowns, removable prosthesis & ortho wires.
Dr/A.R 7
Dental casting alloys
Compare between base metal alloys & Gold alloys
Cobalt- Nickel- Titanium Gold type
chromium chromium III IV
Biocompatibility Biocompatible due to passive layer Biocompatible
Chromium oxides ot Titanium oxide due to its
But: Nickel allergic nobility
Beryllium vapor is carcinogenic
Physical Prop: Excellent: Due to passive layer Excellent
a- Resistance to Titanium: Repassivate in nanosecond if scratched Due to presence
of noble
tarnish & Metals
corrosion
b- Color Lustrous silvery white. Yellow or white.
c- Fusion Tm High Low
d- Density Low High
e- casting 2.3% 1.6%
shrinkage
Mechanical Prop High so can be used in thin Cp Ti low 100X103
sections Ti alloys high
a- E (MPa) used in thick
section to give
same effects as
base
metal alloys
b- Yield strength High Low
c- Hardness High Low
Difficult in finishing & polishing Easy finishing &
but they retain surface for Polishing
longer time
d- % Elongation Low [brittle] High
Casting Technique sensitive difficult due to Easy to cast:
1- ↑melGng 1- melting
1- ↑melGng 2- density
2- ↓density.
2- ↓density.
- avoid change in carbon. - Casting should be done
under vacuum or
- casting should be done
Argon to avoid O2,
under vacuum or Argon
which ↓St. & ductility.
to avoid Nitrogen which
cause brittleness
a. Investment - Phosphate (silica sol) - Phosphate or Silicate - Gypsum bonded
- silicate but carbon free - Recently Magnesia -Phosphate [water]
bonded investment
b. Method 1) Oxyacetylene flame Electric melting Gas air blow pipe
of melting 2) Electric melting induction induction. flame.
c. Casting Centrifugal casting machine due Special machine Air pressure
to low density.
machine
Dr/A.R 8
Dental casting alloys
d. Cooling Bench cooloing Bench cooloing Quenching
e. Finishing 1) Sandblasting - Easily finished
& polishing. N.B: pickling
2) Electrolytic polishing
should be done.
- Difficult to be finished but maintain finishing.
N.B: pickling shouldn’t be done as the HCl will attack
the passive layer.
f. Recasting Cant be Can be
g. Heat Cant be Type III & IV can
treatment be heat treated.
h. Crucible - Quartz in [Co-CR], due to graphite crucible has carbon Graphite
- Ceramic [Ti-Ti], due to graphite crucible can’t withstand
high melting temperature
N.B:
1- Melting Co-R by Oxyacetylene flame should be carefully adjusted, due to :
- Too much oxygen pick up Oxides, so black restoration.
- Too much acetylene pick up Carbon, so brittle restoration.
2- Cobalt-Chromium is not suitavle for use as crown & bridge, due to:
- ductility[4%] easy fracture during mastication
- hard abrade opposing natural teeth.
Dr/A.R 9
