K.S.

Anusha

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 LIST OF CONTENTS
╺ Definition
╺ Requirements of dental casting
alloys
╺ Classification
╺ Metallic elements used in dental
alloys
a) Noble metals
b) Base metals
╺ High Noble and Noble Alloys

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╺ Base Metal Alloys
╺ Titanium and Titanium
Alloys
╺ Conclusion
╺ References

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 DEFINITION
╺ ALLOY is a mixture of two or more metals or metalloids that are
mutually soluble in molten state; distinguished as binary, ternary,
quaternary etc. depending on the number of metals within the mixture;
alloying elements are added to alter the hardness, strength and
toughness of a metallic element, thus obtaining properties not found in
pure metals. - GPT 9

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REQUIREMENTS OF DENTAL
CASTING ALLOYS
╺ CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
a) Non-toxic and Non-allergic
b) Chemically inert (not react with oral
fluids or release harmful products)
c) High tarnish and corrosion resistance
d) Noncarcinogenic
e) Insoluble and stable

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╺ PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL
PROPERTIES

a) High proportional limit and yield strength (to resist permanent

deformation)
b) High modulus of elasticity (to resist elastic deformations)
c) High modulus of resilience and impact strengths (to resist dynmic
impact forces)
d) High compressive, tensile, shear and flexure strength (to withstand
fracture)
e) High fatigue strength and endurance limit (for long service)
f) High sag resistance

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g) Suitable surface hardness
h) Excellent castability
i) Should not absorb gases, to avoid gas-inclusion porosities
and oxidation during casting.
j) Low density to decrease cost and weight, i.e. to improve
retention.
k) Ductile and malleable
l) Ability to bond with ceramics.

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╺ THERMAL
PROPERTIES

a) Low coefficient of thermal expansion (to reduce casting

shrinkage)
b) Low latent heat of fusion (for quicker and easier melting and
solidification)
c) Low solidification contraction (to reduce micro and localized
shrinkage porosities)
d) Minimum coring (small range of melting points) to reduce
inhomogeneity and brittleness.
e) Ability to control hardness by heat treatments.

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╺ AESTHETICS
a) Color matching
b) Should not contain Cu and Ag as these discolor
ceramics in metal ceramic restorations.

╺ OTHERS
c) Alloy and its auxiliary materials like investments should be inexpensive,
and easily available.
d) Simple equipment's and laboratory facilities.
e) No intense training or high skill for fabrication technician
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 CLASSIFICATION OF DENTAL
CASTING ALLOYS

╺ ACCORDING
TO
COMPOSITION

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DEPENDING UPON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

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METALLIC ELEMENTS USED IN
DENTAL ALLOYS
• Ruthenium , Rhodium,
NOBLE Palladium
• Osmium, Iridium, Platinum,
METAL Gold

S
BASE • Copper, Lead, Tin, Zinc, Tin

METAL
S 13
 GOLD
╺ Pure Gold is soft, malleable, ductile, lustrous
with a
yellowish texture, but has Low Strength.
╺ Not affected or tarnished by air or water at any
temperature. (Highest Corrosion Resistance)
╺ Not Soluble in Sulfuric, Nitric or Hydrochloric
acids.
╺ Readily dissolves in Aqua Regia (combination of
Nitric and Hydrochloric Acid) and Potassium
Cyanide.
╺ High melting Temperature. (1063ºC)
╺ Low COTE (14.2ppm/ºC)
╺ Requires Work Hardening to improve its 14
PLATINUM
╺ Bluish-White Metal
╺ Tough, Ductile and Malleable
╺ Hardness similar to Copper.
╺ Low COTE (8.9ppm/ºC) and High melting
temperature. (1769ºC)
╺ Pure form has many applications in dentistry
due to its High Fusing point and Resistance to
oral conditions and elevated temperatures.
╺ When added to gold- Increases Strength,
Elastic Qualities, Recrystallization and Melting
temperatures and Decreases COTE.
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 PALLADIUM

╺ White metal darker than Platinum.

╺ Not used in pure state in dentistry, but used
extensively in dental alloys.
╺ Strength of Pd-alloys is higher than Ag-alloys.
╺ High Melting Point (1063ºC) and Low COTE
(11.8ppm/ºC)
╺ When added to Gold- Increases Strength,
Melting
Point and Decreases COTE.

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IRIDIUM, RUTHENIUM & RHODIUM
RUTHENIUM

╺ Used as trace metals to improve

mechanical
Properties.
╺ Ir and Ru are used as Grain Refiners to keep
Grain Size small, Also both have High melting
IRIDIU
M points of 2410 ºC and 2310 ºC resp.
╺ Rh has High Melting Point (1966 ºC) and has
been used in alloys with platinum to form wire
for thermocouples.

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 COPPER
╺ Malleable, ductile metal with high thermal and
electrical
conductivity and a characteristic RED color.
╺ Low Tarnish and Corrosion Resistance.
╺ High Melting Point (1083 ºC)
╺ Good conductor of heat and electricity.
╺ When added to Gold, helps to Harden it.
╺ Also used in Pd based alloys, to reduce the melting
Point
and strengthening the alloy.

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 ZINC

╺ Blue-White Metal with tendency to Tarnish in moist

air.
╺ In its pure form it is Soft, Brittle metal with Low
Strength.
╺ Low Melting point. (420 ºC)
╺ Present in small amounts but acts as a scavenger of
oxygen when alloy is melted due to High Oxygen affinity.
Thus also k/a DEOXIDIZING AGENT.
╺ Too much of Zinc, Increases Brittleness.

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 INDIUM

╺ Soft grey-white metal

╺ High COTE (33ppm/ ºC)
╺ Very Low Melting Temperature (156
ºC)
╺ Not tarnished by moisture or air.
╺ Can Replace Zinc, as Scavenger.

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 TIN
╺ Lustrous, soft, white metal not subjected to
tarnish
in normal air.
╺ Added to Pt and Pd alloys to produce a
Hardening
Effect, But also increases Brittleness.

GALLIUM
╺ Grayish metal stable in dry air but tarnishes in moist air.
╺ Very Low Melting Point (29.8 ºC)
╺ Not used in pure form in dentistry, used in alloys
especially
Ceramic alloys.
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NICKLE
╺ Limited application in Gold and Palladium based dental
alloys, but is a common component of Base Metal
Dental Alloys.
╺ When used with Gold it increases Strength and
Hardness.
╺ Melting point 1453 ºC
╺ Density 8.91g/cubic cm

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HIGH NOBLE & NOBLE ALLOYS

╺ Acc to ADA specifications, HN metal alloys should contain gold ≥40%

and noble metals (Au, Pt, Pd, Rh, Os, Ir) ≥60% by weight, to have
excellent corrosion resistance and Good Biocompatibility.
╺ N metal alloys should contain noble metals ≥25% by weight, these are
mostly silver and palladium based alloys. (sometimes called as
Semiprecious Metal alloys)

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 COMPOSITION
METAL %
GOLD 40-80%
N ALLOYS
SILVER 10-25% Pd-Au, Au-Ag-Pd, Pd-Ag, Pd-Cu-Ga,
Pd-Ga-Ag
COPPER 6-15%
PALLADIUM, 1-4% METAL %
PLATINUM SILVER 40-70%
GALLIUM, ZINC, TRACES PALLADIUM 5-60%
INDIUM, IRIDIUM
GOLD 0-40%
COPPER 8-14%
HN ALLOYS GALLIUM, ZINC,
INDIUM, IRIDIUM
TRACES

Au-Pt-Pd, Au-Pd-Ag, Au-Pd, Au-Ag-Pd,

Au-Pd-Cu-Ag 24
 PROPERTIES
╺ High Biocompatibility and Resistance to corrosion.
╺ Mechanical properties are composition dependent.
⮚ HN ALLOYS have higher densities so, more expensive compared to
N ALLOYS with lower densities.
❑ Thermal properties- HN ALLOYS have ranges of melting
temperatures (920-960ºC) while N ALLOYS have around (850-
1100ºC)
❑ HN ALLOYS mostly have a yellow texture which becomes more Red
with copper and N ALLOYS have white color.
❑ Simpler casting techniques when compared to base metal alloys.

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PROPERTIES HN METALS N METALS

Corrosion Resistance Very High High

Metal Ceramic Bonding Good Good

Yeild Strength 450-680 MPa 460 MPa

Surface Hardness 180-220 VHN 190 VHN

Modulus of Elasticity 100,000 MPa 90,000 MPa

Density 14-18 gm/cc 10-12 gm/cc

Elongation At Fracture 5-20% 10-30%

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HN AND N METAL ALLOYS
FOR METAL-CERAMIC
REQUIREMENTS-
╺ Ability to bond Chemically with ceramics at high
temperature.
╺ High Modulus of elasticity and Sag resistance
╺ High Solidus temperature done by adding Pt or Pd.
╺ Good thermal capabilities.
╺ Good castability low visocity.

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╺ METHODS TO ACHIEVE BONDING OF METALS AND
CERAMICS

MECHANICAL

PASSIVATION

CHEMICAL

ELECTRODEPOSITION

THERMAL
MISMATCHING

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 PREDOMINANTLY BASE
METAL (PBM) ALLOYS
╺ Mainly base metal alloys which may or may not contain Noble metals (0-25%)
╺ PROPERTIES-
▪ High corrosion resistance due to strongly bonded impervious oxide layer (Passivation) on
the surface.
▪ Superior Mechanical properties (high modulus of elasticity, yield strength, ultimate tensile
strength and surface hardness)
▪ Low density (lighter appliances), at low cost.
▪ High fusion temperature around 1300-1600ºC
▪ White in color and shine like stars (stellites)
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ACC TO ADA SPECIFICATION NO 14 THESE ALLOYS
SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWING PROPERTIES-

o Passivating Metal Cr˃20% by weight

o Major elements Co + Ni + Cr ˃85% by weight
o Yield strength ˃ 500MPa
o Modulus of elasticity ˃ 1,70,000 MPa
o Elongation Percentage ˃ 1.5%

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 CLASSIFICATION
╺ BASED ON PASSIVATION OXIDE
FILM
⮚ Chromic oxide film
⮚ Titanium oxide film

╺ BASED ON COMPOSITION
⮚ Cobalt based
⮚ Nickle based
⮚ Titanium based
⮚ Aluminium bronzes 32
╺ BASED ON FUSION TEMPERATURES
⮚ Low fusing – Solidus temperature ˂1300 ºC
⮚ High fusing - Solidus temperature ˃1300 ºC

❑ BASED ON APPLICATIONS
⮚ All metal crown and bridges
⮚ Cast RPD frameworks
⮚ Metal ceramics
⮚ Orthopaedic implants

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 COMPOSITION
╺ Cobalt 0-65% or Nickel 0-80% or Co + Ni 60-65%
╺ Chromium 15-30% in Co based alloys and 11-17% on Ni based
alloys.
╺ Molybednum or Tungsten 5-10% for hardness
╺ Beryllium 1-2% to decrease Melting temperature.
╺ Trace metals for increasing mechanical properties (Al, Fe, Cu, Mo)
╺ Trace metals for increasing grain refinements(Iridium, Ruthenium)
╺ Trace metals for increasing scavenging(Manganese, Zinc, Indium)

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 TITANIUM AND ITS ALLOYS
╺ Titanium’s resistance to electrochemical degradation;
relatively light weight and low density, low modulus,
and high strength make titanium-based materials
attractive for use in dentistry.
╺ Titanium forms a very stable oxide layer with a
thickness, and it repassivates in a time on the order of
nanoseconds (10–9 second). This oxide formation is
the basis for the corrosion resistance and
biocompatibility of titanium. Titanium has therefore
been called the material of choice in dentistry.

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╺ Comercially Pure Ti is available in four grades, which vary
according
to the oxygen (0.18 to 0.40 wt%) and iron (0.20 to 0.50 wt%) content.

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CAST TITANIUM-
╺ The two most important factors in casting titanium-based materials
are their high melting point (1700°C for CP Ti) and chemical
reactivity.
╺ Because of the high melting point, special melting procedures,
cooling cycles, mold material, and casting equipment to prevent
metal contamination are required.
╺ Titanium readily reacts with gaseous elements such as hydrogen,
oxygen, and nitrogen, particularly at elevated temperatures (greater
than 600°C). As a result, any manipulation of titanium at elevated
temperatures must be performed in a well-controlled vacuum or inert
atmosphere.
╺ Without such controls, titanium surfaces will be contaminated by an
oxygen-enriched and hardened surface layer, which can be as thick
as 100 μm, and can reduce strength and ductility and promote
cracking because of the embrittling effect of the oxygen. 37
TITANIUM ALLOYS-
╺ Titanium alloys have a lower melting point than pure
titanium.
╺ Lower casting temperatures may also reduce
the
reactivity of titanium with oxygen and other gases.
╺ The difficulties with cast titanium for dental
purposes include high melting point and high
reactivity, low casting efficiency, inadequate
extansion of investment, casting porosity, and
difficulty in finishing this metal. From a technical
standpoint, titanium is difficult to weld, solder,
machine, finish, and adjust. Casting titanium
requires expensive equipment.
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 REFERENCES
╺ Anusavice KJ, Shen C, Rawls HR. Phillips’ Science of Dental Materials. 12th ed.
St.
Louis: Saunders; 2012.
╺ RONALD SAKAGUCHI; CRAIG’S RESTORATIVE DENTAL MATERIALS. 14TH
EDITION
╺ GLOSSARY OF PROSTHODONTIC TERMS, 9TH EDITION

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