CASTING ALLOYS

V.NIVEDHA
 HISTORY
 INTRODUCTION
 PROPERTIES OF CASTING ALLOYS
 CLASSIFICATION
 ALL METAL RESTORATIONS
 TYPES
 GOLD ALLOYS
 SILVER-PALLADIUM
 ALUMINIUM BRONZE
 METAL CERAMIC ALLOYS
 EVOLUTION
 CLASSIFICATION
 NOBLE ALLOYS
 BASE METALS
 TITANIUM
 COBALT CHROMIUM
 GOLD ALTERNATIVE
 1907 – The Lost – Wax Process → Taggart and noble metals were used

 Base metal removable partial denture alloys were introduced in the 1930.The
advantages of the base metal alloys are their lighter weight, greater stiffness, other
beneficial mechanical properties, and reduced costs.

 In 1932, the dental materials group at the National Bureau of standards surveyed
the alloys being used and classified them as Type I (Soft , VHN between 50 and
90) Type II (Medium VHN between 90 and 120) Type III (Hard VHN between 120
and 150) Type IV (Extra hard, VHN ≥ 150) ANSI/ADA Specification no.5 ISO
standard 15592.

 1959 – Porcelain – Fused – to – Metal Process emerged

 In 1970,there was a tremendous shoot up in gold price

 In some alloys, gold was replaced with palladium. In other alloys, palladium
eliminated gold entirely.

 Base metal alloys with nickel as the major element eliminated the exclusive need
for noble metals.

 The only nearly pure metal cast for dental applications is commercially pure
titanium
 ALLOY: is defined as a metal containing two or more metals ,at least
one of which is a metal and all of which are mutually soluble in a molten state
 Biocompatibility: The alloy should not react with the oral fluids and
release any harmful products in oral environment.

 Resistance to tarnish: Tarnish is a thin film of a surface deposit or an

interaction layer that is adherent to the metal surface. Tarnish is usually on
silver alloys and on gold alloys with higher silver content.

 Resistance to corrosion: Corrosion may lead to catastrophic failure;

oxidized components may discolor natural teeth, porcelain veneers and soft
tissues.
 Corrosion also contribute to galvanic shock due to the electrons released
during corrosion.
 Released metallic components may cause metallic taste in the mouth.
 The presence of noble metals in alloy increases resistance to corrosion.
 Nonallergenic: Although toxic materials are eliminated from the alloys.
However, some individuals exhibits allergic reactions to some components.
Since these allergic reactions are peculiar to the individual patient, the dentist
should have a record of all the components of the alloy that is being used and
should inform the patient accordingly.
  Aesthetics: The alloys must be in optimal balance among the properties of
aesthetics, fit, abrasive potential and clinical survivability.

 Thermal Properties: For metal-ceramic restorations, the alloys or metals

must have closely matching thermal expansion to be compatible with a given
porcelain, and they must tolerate high processing temperatures.
 The melting range of alloys must be low enough to form smooth surfaces
with the mold walls of the investment

 Liquidus and solidus temperatures: liquidus is the lowest temperature at

which an alloy is completely liquid; solidus is the highest temperature at
which an alloy is completely solid.
 The melting of the alloys starts at solidus temperature and is completed at
liquidus temperature.

 An alloy must be heated above its liquidus to be cast successfully.

 Alloys with the lower the solidus temperature is preferred as the lower
shrinkage occurs during cooling.
 Hardness: The hardness of an alloy should be sufficient enough to
resist wear by the opposing tooth or restoration.

At the same time, it should not be high enough to cause wear of the opposing
enamel (VHN of enamel is 340 kg/mm²).

Hardness of an alloy should not be less than 125 kg/mm² or greater than 340
kg/mm²

 Ease of fabrication: The material should be easily manipulated and the

procedure for fabrication should not be too complicated and lengthy.
 Castability: To achieve accurate details in a cast framework or prosthesis,
the molten metal must able to wet the investment mold material very well
and flow into the most intricate regions of the mold without any
appreciable interaction with the investment and without forming porosity
within the surface or sub surface region
 Finishing of cast metal: Some metals are harder, hence more difficult to
finish and polish.
 Some noble metal alloys are more ductile and malleable, hence care
should be taken during finishing of the casting.
 The hardness of an alloy is a good indicator of the difficulty in grinding and
finishing of the alloy.

 Porcelain Bonding: The alloy used in metal- ceramic restorations should

be able to form a thin, adherent layer of oxide on its surface to enable proper
bonding with ceramic.
 The alloy must have a coefficient of thermal expansion/contraction closely
matching to that of ceramic so as to create compressive stresses to enhance
fracture resistance of the ceramic.
 According to Use
Alloys for all metal and resin veneer
 1) restorations" (e.g. inlays, posts, resin and composite veneered crowns
& bridges)
 2) Alloys for metal ceramics restorations

 According to Yield Strength and Percentage Elongation (ADA Sp. 5

(Classification
 Type I Soft
 Type II Medium
 Type III Hard
 Type IV Extra hard
(According to Nobility (ADA 1984
A.High noble metal alloys
 Contains ≥ 40 wt% Au and ≥ 60 wt% noble metals
B. Noble metal alloys
 Contains ≥ 25 wt% of noble metals
C.Predominantly base metal Contains < 25 wt% of noble metals

According to Major Element

 Gold alloys
 Silver alloys
 Palladium alloys
 Nickel alloys
 Cobalt alloys
 Titanium alloys
According to the Three Major Elements
 Gold-palladium-silver

 Palladium-silver-tin
 Nickel-chromium-molybdenum
 Cobalt-chromium-molybdenum
 Iron-nickel-chromium
 Titanium-aluminum-vanadium

According to the Number of Alloys Present

 1) Binary-two elements

 Ternary-three elements
 Quaternary (and so forth)-four elements
 These alloys were among the earliest alloys available to dentistry.
 The early alloys were mostly gold alloys. Since they were intended for all
metallic and later for resin veneered restorations, they just had to meet the
basic requirements. No special requirements are needed for veneering with
resin.

 Currently, the use of these alloys are slowly

declining because of the
 Increased esthetic awareness has reduced the trend for metal display.

 Increasing popularity of all ceramic and metal ceramic restorations.

 Reducing popularity of resin and composite as veneering material
 Resin facings have a number of disadvantages
 They wear rapidly
 color instability and stain absorption
These alloys will be discussed under the following categories

 High noble -gold alloys

 Noble - Silver palladium alloys

 Base metal - Cobalt chrome alloys

 Titanium and its alloys

 Aluminum bronze alloys

 Traditionally, gold content of dental casting alloys was called Karat.

 Karat
 It refers to the parts of pure gold present
in 24 parts of alloy Eg: 24- karat gold is
22 parts pure gold and 2 parts of other metal

 Fineness
 Fineness of a gold alloy is the parts per thousand of pure gold. Pure gold is
1000 fine. Thus, if 3/4 of the gold alloy is pure gold, it is said to be 750 fine.
 Pure gold is a soft and ductile metal and so is not used for casting dental
restorations and appliances.

 Dental casting golds are alloyed commonly with copper, silver, platinum,
nickel and zinc.

 Alloying gold with these metals not only improves its physical and
mechanical properties but also reduces its cost.

 Increase in the platinum, palladium and silver content of modern alloys

have resulted in whiter colored gold alloys. Thus, there are 'yellow gold alloys'
and 'white gold alloys'. The rise in gold prices have also led to the availability
of alloys with low gold content. These are the 'low golds
GOLD:
 Provides tarnish and corrosion resistance and has a desirable
 appearance.
 Also provides ductility and malleability

COPPER:
 It is the principal hardener. It reduces the melting point and density of
gold. If present in sufficient quantity, it gives the alloy a reddish color.
 It also helps to age harden gold alloys. In greater amounts it reduces
resistance to tarnish and corrosion of the gold alloy. Therefore, the maximum
content should not exceed 16 percent
SILVER:
 It whitens the alloy, thus helping to counteract the reddish color of copper.
It increases strength and hardness slightly.
 In large amount, however, it reduces tarnish resistance

PLATINUM:
 It increases strength and corrosion resistance. It also increases melting
point and has a whitening effect on the alloy. It helps to reduce the grain
size

PALLADIUM:
 Similar to platinum in its effect. It hardens and whitens the alloy. It also
raises fusion temperature and provides tarnish resistance. It is less expensive
than platinum, thus,reducing the cost of the alloy
ZINC:
 It acts as a scavenger for oxygen. Without zinc, the silver in the alloy
causes absorption of oxygen during melting. Later during solidification,
the oxygen is rejected producing gas porosities in the casting

INDIUM,TIN,IRON:

 They help to harden the ceramic gold- palladium alloys, iron

being the most effective
CALCIUM:
 It is added to compensate for the decreased CTE that results when the alloy
is made silver free
Iridium, Ruthenium, Rhenium

 They help to decrease the grain size. They are added in small quantities

Note: All modern noble metal alloys are fine grained.

 Smaller the grain size of the metal, the more ductile and stronger it
is. It also produces a more homogeneous casting and improves the
tarnish resistance. A large grain size reduces the strength and increases
the brittleness of the metal. Factors controlling the grain size are the
rate of cooling, shape of the mould, and composition of the alloy
COLOUR:
 Traditionally the gold alloys were gold colored. The color of modern gold
alloys can vary from gold to white. It depends on the amount of whitening
elements (silver, platinum, palladium, etc.) present in the alloy

MELTING RANGE:
 Ranges between 920 to 960°C. The melting range of an alloy is important. It
indicates the type of investment required and the type of heating source needed to
melt the alloy

DENSITY:
 It gives an indication of the number of dental castings that can be made
from a unit weight of the metal. In other words, more number of cast
restorations per unit weight can be made from an alloy having a lower density,
than one having a higher density. Gold alloys are lighter than pure gold
 HARDNESS:

 The hardness indicates the ease with which these alloys can be cut, ground
or polished.
 Gold alloys are generally more user friendly than the base metal alloys
which are extremely hard
ELONGATION:
 It indicates the ductility of the alloy. A reasonable amount is required
especially if the alloy is to be deformed during clinical use, e.g. clasp
adjustment for removable partial dentures, margin adjustment and
burnishing of crowns and inlays.
 Modulus of Elasticity: This indicates the stiffness/flexibility of the metal.
Gold alloys are more flexible than base metal alloys

 Tarnish and Corrosion Resistance: Gold alloys are resistant to tarnish

and corrosion. This is due to their high noble metal content. Noble metals are
less reactive
 All alloys shrink when they change from liquid to solid. The casting
shrinkage in gold alloys is less (1.25 to 1.65%) when compared to base metal
alloys

The shrinkage occurs in three stages

 Thermal contraction of the liquid metal,
 Contraction of the metal while changing from liquid to solid state
 Thermal contraction of solid metal as it reaches room temperature

 Shrinkage affects the fit of the restoration. Therefore, it must be controlled

and compensated for in the casting technique
 Biocompatibility Gold alloys are relatively biocompatible
 Casting Investment Gypsum-bonded investments are used for
gold alloys because of their lower fusion temperature
  Heat treatment of alloys is done in order to alter its mechanical properties.
Gold alloys can be heat treated if it contains sufficient amount of copper.

Softening Heat Treatment

 Softening heat treatment increases ductility, but reduces strength,
proportions limit, and hardness.

Indications
 It is indicated for appliances that are to be ground, shaped or otherwise
cold worked in or outside the mouth

Method : The casting is placed in an electric furnace for 10 minutes at 700°C,

and then it is quenched in water. During this period, all intermediate phases
are change to a disordered solid solution, and the rapid quenching prevents
ordering from occurring during cooling. Each alloy has its optimum
temperature.
Hardening Heat Treatment (or Ageing) :
Hardening heat treatment increases strength, proportional limit, and
hardness, but decrease ductility. It is the copper present in gold alloys
which helps in the age hardening process

Indications
 For strengthening metallic
dentures, saddles, bridges,
and other similar structures
before use in the mouth.
 It is not employed for smaller
structures such as inlays
 It is done by "soaking" or ageing the casting at a specific temperature for
a definite time, usually 15 to 30 minutes. It is then water quenched or cooled
slowly. The ageing temperature depends on the alloy composition but is
generally between 200C and 450°C.

 During this period, the intermediate phases are changed to an ordered

solid solution (The proper time and temperature for age hardening an alloy
is specified by its manufacturer).

 Ideally, before age hardening an alloy, it should first be subjected to a

softening heat treatment in order to relieve all strain hardening (stresses
which occurs during finishing). Starting the hardening treatment when the
alloy is in a disordered solid solution allows better control of the ageing
process
 These alloys were introduced as a cheaper alternative to gold alloys. It is
predominantly silver in composition.

 Palladium (at least 25%) is added to provide nobility and resistance to

tarnish. They may or may not contain copper and gold. They are white in color

 The properties of the silver-palladium alloys are similar to gold alloys.

However, they have lower ductility and corrosion resistance. They also have a
significantly lower density than gold alloy.
 This may affect its castability
 These are known as base metal alloys and are extensively used in many of
the developing countries.

 In India, because of their relatively low cost many of the laboratories use
these alloys along with resin facings. These metals are very strong and
hard. Because of this they are generally difficult to work with (cutting,
grinding, polishing, etc)

TITANIUM AND TITANIUM ALLOYS:

 Though these metals can be used for all-metal and metal ceramic
restorations, as well as partial dentures.
 Bronze is an alloy known to man since ancient times. Traditional bronze is
copper alloyed with tin.
The composition is as follows
 Copper (81 to 88%) ,
 Aluminum (8 to 10%
 Nickel ( 2 to 4%)
 Iron ( 1 to 4%)
Being relatively new, the information on these alloys is relatively scanty
Metal ceramic alloys are those alloys that are compatible with porcelain and
capable of bonding to it.
 A layer of porcelain is fused to the alloy to give it a natural tooth- like
appearance. Porcelain being a brittle material fractures easily, so these alloys
are used to reinforce the porcelain

 Several types of alloys are used to cast sub- structures for porcelain fused to
metal crowns and bridges.

 They may be noble metal alloys or base metal alloys . All have coefficient
of thermal expansion (CTE) values which match that of porcelain. Note CTE
has a reciprocal relationship with melting point, i.e. the higher the melting
point of a metal, lower is its CTE
 The metal-ceramic alloys evolved from resin-veneered crown and bridge alloys.

 Resin facing faced the problem of gradual wear and had to be replaced over time.
Besides resin could not be used on the occlusal surface. To retain a resin veneered
restoration undercuts had to be provided.

 The early metal-ceramic alloys were high gold alloys (88% gold). They were
not strong enough for use in bridges. In those early days before porcelain-metal
bonding was clearly understood, porcelain had to be retained by mechanical
means with the help of undercuts.

 Later, it was discovered that adding 1% of base metals like iron, tin, indium,
etc. induced chemical bonding by the formation of an oxide layer. This
significantly improved the bond strength between the porcelain and the metal
 It's melting temperature should be higher than the porcelain firing
temperature

 It should be able to resist creep or sag at these temperatures.

 Its CTE should be compatible with that of porcelain.

 They should be able to bond with porcelain

 It should have a high stiffness (modulus of elasticity). Any flexing of the

metal framework may cause porcelain to fracture

 It should not stain or discolor porcelain

 High noble Base metal

 Gold-palladium-platinum alloys  Nickel-chromium alloys

 Gold-palladium-silver alloys  Nickel-chromium-beryllium alloys
 Gold-palladium alloys Cobalt-chromium alloys

 Noble Pure titanium

 Palladium-silver alloys  Titanium-aluminum-vanadium

 Palladium-gallium-silver alloys
 Palladium-gold alloys
 Palladium-gold-silver alloys
 Palladium-copper alloys
 Palladium-cobalt alloys
 Cost these are the most expensive crown and bridge alloys. However, in
spite of the cost these alloys are user friendly and are preferred in practices
where the clientele can afford the cost
 Color the color can range from white to gold depending on the gold
content. The whitening alloys are palladium and platinum. The gold color
when present can enhance the vitality of the porcelain thus improving the
esthetics
 Melting range

Porcelain is fired at a temperature of900 to 960°C. Thus obviously these

alloys must have melting temperatures much higher than the temperatures
at which porcelain is fired. Pure gold has a melting temperature ofl063°C.
The melting temperature is raised by the addition of platinum (l769°C)
and palladium (1552°C). The melting temperatures of these metal ceramic
gold alloys range from 1149 to 1304°C

 Density

ranges from 13.5 to 18.3 gm/cm- (depending on the gold content). Because of
the high gold and noble metal content, these alloys have a high density. The
density reduces as more palladium is added
 Castability: the high density of these alloys make them easy to cast.
If done well one can expect most of the fine features to be accurately
duplicated
 Yield strength ranges from 450 to 572 MPa.
 Hardness and workability ranges from 182 to 220 VHN. These
alloys are relatively softer when compared to the base metal alloys and so
are extremely easy to work with. They are easy to cut, grind and polish
 Percent elongation ranges from 5 to 20%. This gives an indication of the
ductility of the alloy. The higher the value the more ductile it is
 Porcelain bonding
the presence of an oxide layer on the surface of metal ceramic alloys assists in
chemical bonding of porcelain to the alloy. Pure noble metal alloys rarely
form an oxide layer. To induce the formation of an oxide layer, 1% of base
metals like tin, indium, iron, etc. are added to the alloy. This significantly
improved the bond strength between the porcelain and the metal

 Sag resistance
during porcelain firing, the metal frame has to withstand temperatures of as high
as 950°C. At these high temperatures there is a danger of the metal substructure
sagging under its own weight, thereby deforming. The longer the span the greater
is the danger of sagging. The ability of a metal to resist sag is known as sag
resistance. Compared to base metal alloys, gold alloys are less sag resistant

 Tarnish and corrosion

Because of their high noble metal content, these alloys are extremely stable
in the oral environment. Noble metals have low reactivity to oxygen and
therefore do not tarnish easily
 Biocompatibility

high noble alloys have had a good and safe track record. They are not known
to cause any problems in the mouth

 Soldering

Gold based alloys are quite easy to solder

 Composition
 %(Gold 80 to 88 wt)
 %(Palladium 5 to 11 wt)
 %(Platinum 6 to 8 wt) Base metals by 1%

 %(Silver 0 to 4.9 wt)

 Composition
 %(Gold (39 to 77 wt
 %(Palladium (10 to 44 wt
 %(Silver (9 to 22 wt
 (Base metal (balance around 1%

 The silver has a tendency to discolor some

porcelains
 Cost their cost range between that of the gold alloys and the base metal
alloys
 Color they are white in color
 Density they are less denser than the gold alloys. The density ranges from
10.5 to 11.5 gm/cm
 Castability these alloys have a lower density than the gold alloys and so do
not cast as well. However they are better than the base metal-ceramic alloys in
this regard
 Workability
like the gold alloys these alloys are extremely easy to work with. They are easy to
cut, grind and polish

 Melting range
a typical melting range is 1155 to 1304°C. The melting range of these alloys like
the gold ceramic alloys are high. This is desirable to ensure that these alloys don't
melt during porcelain firing

 Yield strength
ranges from 462 to 685 MPa.

 Hardness
ranges from 189 to 270 VHN. They tend to
be slightly harder than the high noble
metalceramic alloys
 Percent elongation
Ranges from 10 to 34%. This gives an indication of the ductility of the alloy.
The higher the value the more ductile it is

 Porcelain bonding
Like the gold alloys, base metals like tin, indium, etc are added to assist porcelain
bonding

 Tarnish and corrosion

Because of their high noble metal content, these alloys are extremely stable in the
oral environment

 Biological considerations
These alloys are very safe and biocompatible.
 These alloys were introduced in the 1970's as an alternative to gold and
base metal alloys.
 Their popularity has declined a little because of the greening problem

 COMPOSITION:

%Palladium 53 to 60 wt
%Silver 28 to 40 wt

Base metals balance( 1 to 8%

 Esthetics (Greening) The high silver content causes the most severe
greening (greenish- yellow discoloration) problem among all the metal
ceramic alloys. This must be kept in mind when using it for anterior teeth.
 Some manufacturers have provided special agents to minimize this effect
(gold metal conditioners and coating agents).
 Another alternative is to use special non-greening porcelain
 These are relatively new alloys. Little information is
available regarding their properties
 Composition

%(Palladium (74 to 80 wt
%(Copper (5 to 10 wt
%(Gallium (4 to 9 wt
%(Gold (1 to 2 wt
%( Base metal (around 1 wt
 Esthetics
Copper does cause a slight discoloration of the porcelain, but is not a major
problem. During the oxidation firing the metal acquires a dark brown almost
black oxide layer. Care should be taken to mask this completely with
opaquer. Also of concern is the dark line which develops at the margins
 Castability

These alloys are more technique sensitive. Slight errors can lead to faulty
castings
 COMPOSITION:

%Palladium 78 to 88 wt
%Cobalt 4 to 10 wt
%Gallium up to 9wt
%Base metals around 1 wt
Esthetics Cobalt can cause some insignificant discoloration.
However, more care should be given for masking the dark oxide layer
with opaque
Sag resistance They are the most sag resistant of all the noble alloys
There are two groups-the palladium-gallium-silver and the
palladium-gallium- silver-gold
Composition
%Palladium 75 wt
%Gallium 6 wt
%Silver 5 to 8 wt
%Gold 6 wt

%Base metal around 1 wt

Esthetics The oxide layer though dark is still somewhat lighter
than the palladium copper and palladium cobalt
alloys. The silver content does not cause any greening
 Alloys which contain little or no noble metals are known as base metal
alloys.

 These alloys were introduced as a cheaper alternative to the very expensive

noble metal ceramic alloys.

 In countries like the USA, western Europe and some middle eastern states,
there is a preference for noble and high noble ceramic alloys.

 In contrast, developing countries have shown a preference for base metal-

ceramic alloys. This is because the economic concerns far outweigh the
advantages of the more user-friendly high noble alloys
 COMPOSITION:

:Basic elements
%Nickel 61 to 81 wt
%Chrome 11 to 27 wt
%Molybdenum 2 to 9 wt
 Cost they are the cheapest of the casting alloys

 Color They are white in color

 Melting range a typical melting range is 1155 to 1304°C. The melting

range of these alloys like the gold ceramic alloys are high

 Density ranges from 7.8 to 8.4 gm/cm-'. They have just half the density of
the gold alloys making them much lighter. One can get more castings per
gram compared to the gold alloys
 Castability they are extremely technique sensitive. One reason may be their
lower density compared to the gold alloys

 Hardness and workability

They tend to be much harder than the high noble metal ceramic alloys. Unlike
the gold alloys these alloys are extremely difficult to work with.
 Their high hardness makes them very difficult to cut (sprue cutting), grind
and polish. In the mouth more chair time may be needed to adjust the occlusion.
Cutting and removing a defective crown can be quite demanding. The high
hardness results in rapid wear of carbide and diamond burs.

 Yield strength ranges from 310 to 828 MPa. These alloys are stronger than
the gold and palladium based alloys
 Modulus of elasticity ranges from 150 to 210 MPa This property denotes
the stiffness of the alloy.
 Base metal alloys are twice as stiff as the gold ceramic alloys. Practically,
this means that we can make thinner, lighter castings or use it in long span
bridges where other metals are likely to fail because of flexing. Gold alloys
require a minimum thickness of at least 0.3 to 0.5 mm, whereas base metal
alloys copings can be reduced to 0.3 mm some even claim 0.1 mm
 Percent elongation ranges from 10 to 28%. This gives an indication of
the ductility of the alloy.

 Though they may appear to be ductile these alloys however, are not easily
burnishable. This may be related to additional factors like the high hardness
and yield strength
 Porcelain bonding These alloys form an adequate oxide layer which is essential for
successful porcelain bonding. However, occasionally the porcelain may delaminate
from the underlying metal. This has been blamed on a poorly adherent oxide layer
which occurs under certain circumstances which have not been fully understood

 Sag resistance These materials are far more stable at porcelain firing
temperatures than the gold based alloys. They have a higher sag resistance

 Esthetics A dark oxide layer may be seen at the porcelain metal junction

 Tarnish and corrosion resistance These alloys are highly resistant to tarnish
and corrosion. This is due to the property known as passivation. Passivation is the
property by which a resistant oxide layer forms on the surface of chrome
containing alloys. This oxide layer protects the alloy from further oxidation and
corrosion. These alloys can maintain their polish for years. Other self passivating
alloys are titanium and aluminum
 Soldering

Soldering is necessary to join bridge parts. Long span bridges are often
cast in two parts to improve the fit and accuracy. The parts
are assembled correctly in the mouth and an index made. The parts are then
reassembled in the laboratory and joined together using solder.
 Base metal alloys are much more difficult to solder than gold alloys.
 Casting shrinkage
These alloys have a higher casting shrinkage than the gold alloys. Greater mould
expansion is needed to compensate for this. Inadequate compensation for casting
shrinkage can lead to a poorly fitting casting
 Etching

 Etching is necessary for resin bonded restorations (e.g. Maryland bridges)

to improve the retention of the cement to the restoration.
Etching of base metal alloys is done in a electrolytic etching bath

 Biological considerations

 Nickel may produce allergic reactions in some individuals. It is also a

potential carcinogen. Beryllium which is present in many base metal alloys is a
potentially toxic substance. Inhalation of beryllium containing dust or fumes
is the main route of exposure. It causes a condition known as 'berylliosis'. It is
characterized by flulike symptoms and granulomas of the lungs
 Recently titanium and its alloys have become available for use in metal-
ceramics.

 It is also used for NITI files, removable partial denture alloy frames and of
course commercial implants, It has been adapted in dentistry because of its
excellent biocompatibility, light weight, good strength and ability to passivate
 Color it is a white color metal

 Density It is a light weight metal (density 4.1 gm/cm-) when compared to

nickel chrome (8 gms/cm-) and gold alloys (15 gm/cm").

 Modulus of elasticity its MOE is 110 Gpa which makes it only half as
rigid as base metal alloys. However this appears to be sufficient for most
dental uses
 Melting point its melting point is quite high (1668°C). Special equipment is
needed for casting titanium

 Coefficient of thermal expansion this is an important property when it is used

as a metal ceramic alloy. When used as a metal ceramic alloy the CTE is far too
low to be compatible with porcelain. For this reason special low fusing porcelains
have been developed to get around this problem

 Biocompatibility It is nontoxic and has excellent biocompatibility with both

hard and soft tissues

 Tarnish and corrosion Titanium has the ability to self- passivate. It forms a
thin protective oxide layer which protects the metal from further oxidation
 Cobalt-chromium alloys have been available since the 1920's.

 They possess high strength. Their excellent corrosion resistance especially

at high temperatures makes them useful for a number of applications.

 These alloys are also known as 'stellite' because of their shiny, star-like
appearance. They have bright lustrous, hard, strong, and non-tarnishing
qualities
 COMPOSITION:

Cobalt 35 to 65%
%Chromium 23 to 30
%Nickel 0 to 20
%Molybdenum 0 to 7
%Iron 0 to 5
%Carbon up to 0.4
 Cobalt

Imparts hardness, strength and rigidity to the alloy. It has a high melting point

 Chromium
 Its passivating effect ensures corrosion resistance. The chromium content
is directly proportional to tarnish and corrosion resistance. It reduces the
melting point. Along with other elements, it also acts in solid solution
hardening.
 30% chromium is considered the upper limit for attaining maximum
mechanical properties
 Nickel Cobalt and nickel are interchangeable. It decreases strength,
hardness, MOE and fusion temperature. It increases ductility
 Molybdenum or Tungsten They are effective hardeners. Molybdenum
is preferred as it reduces ductility to a lesser extent than tungsten.
Molybdenum refines grain structure
 Iron, Copper, Beryllium They are hardeners. In addition, beryllium
reduces fusion temperature and refines grain structure
 Manganese and Silicon Primarily oxide scavengers to prevent oxidation of
other elements during melting. They are also hardeners
 Boron Deoxidizer and hardener, but reduces ductility

 Carbon Carbon content is most critical. Small amounts may have a

pronounced effect on strength, hardness and ductility. Carbon forms
carbides with the metallic constituents which is an important factor in
strengthening the alloy. However, excess carbon increases brittleness. Thus,
control of carbon content in the alloy is important
  Density The density is half that of gold alloys, so they are lighter in
weight (8 to 9)

 Fusion Temperature Thus casting temperature of this alloy is

considerably higher than that of gold alloys (l250°C to 1480°C).

 Yield Strength It is higher than that of gold alloys (710 Mpa)

 Elongation Their ductility is lower than that of gold alloys. It depends on

composition, rate of cooling, and the fusion and mould temperature
employed. The elongation value is 1 to 12%.

 Modulus of Elasticity They are twice as stiff as gold alloys (225 x 10"
MPa). Thus, casting can be made thinner
 Hardness These alloys are 50% harder than gold alloys (432 VHN). Thus,
cutting, grinding and finishing is difficult. It wears off the cutting instrument.
Special hard, high speed finishing tools are needed

 Tarnish and Corrosion Resistance (Passivation) Formation of a layer of

chromium oxide on the surface of these alloys prevents tarnish and corrosion
in the oral cavity. This is called 'passivating effect'.

 Casting Shrinkage The casting shrinkage is much greater (2.3%) than that
of gold alloys. The high shrinkage is due to their high fusion temperature

 Porosity as in gold alloys, porosity is due to shrinkage of the alloy and

release of dissolved gases. Porosity is affected by the composition of the
alloys and its manipulation
 Lighter in weight
 Better mechanical properties
 As corrosion resistant as gold alloys (due to passivating effect)
 Less expensive than gold alloys
 More technique sensitive
 High fusing temperatures
 Extremely hard, so required special equipment for finishing
 The high hardness can cause excessive wear of restorations and natural
teeth contacting the restorations
 Introduced in 1987, NPG is the first patented, yellow-gold colored alloy.
 Dealloying silver/gold alloys in neutral pH silver nitrate solution to form
nanoporous gold (NPG)
 A premium, non-precious casting alloy for fixed crowns, bridges and onlays, NPG
is recognized worldwide as the gold alterna- tive—and has been for 25 years.

 NPG and NPG+2 are unique alloys; formally the only formulations of their type to
be Accepted by the American Dental Association’s Council on Dental Materials, in
1989 and 1998 respectively.
 Benifited by smooth and accurate NPG castings, providing reliable quality and fit.
NPG is simple to finish, and soldering is trouble-free with specially formulated
Aalba Gold Solder and Aalba Flux.
 The bio-compatibility of NPG has been established through extensive in-vitro
corrosion and biological studies. With over 25 years of clinical service, NPG has
been proven to offer patients reliability, durability, comfort
 APPLICATIONS

Non-ceramic fixed appliances, full cast crowns (FMC), single units, onlays, short-span
multiple unit bridgework, metal sub-structure for veneer crowns using polymer resins
(acrylic & composites), posts and cores.

Properties:
Tensile Strength psi (MPa)
81,200 (560)
Yield Strength psi (MPa)
38,425 (265)
Elongation Percent %
15
Vickers Hardness HV1
140
Density g/cm3
7.8
Color
Yellow-Gold
Melting Range °F (°C)
1,850-1,950 (1,012-1,068)
Composition
Cu 80.7% Al 7.8% Ni 4.3% Fe, Zn, Mn
• Since the elastic modulus of Ni-Cr is higher than NPG, it was rigid when the force
was applied and did not longer follow the elastic deformation, which resulted in
localized stresses within the root canal, leading to root fracture

• Since the elastic modulus of Ni-Cr is higher than NPG, it was rigid when the force was
applied and did not longer follow the elastic deformation, which resulted in localized
stresses within the root canal, leading to root fracture
 CRAIG RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY

 ANUSAVICE

 Metal-Ceramic Alloys in Dentistry: A Review Howard W. Roberts, DMD,

MS,1 David W. Berzins, PhD,2 B. Keith Moore, PhD,3 & David G. Charlton,
DDS, MSD4,5

 CASTING METALS IN DENTISTRY: PAST - PRESENT – FUTURE ,K.

ASGAR
 Department ofBiomaterials, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 ,Adv Dent Res 2(l):33-43, August, 1988

 Casting alloys,John C. Wataha, DMD, PhD*, Regina L. Messer,

PhD,Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry, Augusta, GA 30912-
1260, USA,DCNA