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⚫ High strength
Macrostructure
-detectable with eyes or loupe
-surface defects, cracking, corrosion
Microstructure
-detectable with microscope
-texture of metals
Crystal structure
- six different crystal systems reveal
Macrostructure
Microstructure
⚫ Homogeneous (single-phase)
– any parts of material are similar
physically or chemically.
⚫ Heterogeneous
(two-or multi phase)
– more phases can be separated
physically or chemically.
Classification of metals
⚫ atomic weight, density
– light metals (Al 26.98, Ti 47.88)
– heavy metals (Au 196.9, Hg 200.59, W 183.85)
⚫ melting point
– low mp. (Al, Sn, Pb) < ~1000 C
– high mp. (W, Mo, Re, Pt, Pd) > ~1000 C
⚫ elasticity, hardness, strength, wear resistance
⚫ ductility, melleability, shrinkage
Classification of metals
⚫ Tendence to corrosion
noble metals (Au, Pt, Pd, Ir, Os, Rh, Ru)
They do not become oxidize either in air, or in
liquid, or under heating process. Together with
Ag they are called precious metals.
Alloys
Example: Gold alloys. Gold is very soft metal, which cannot resist chewing forces.
Therefore it must be alloyed with copper or silver or platinum and other metals to develop the
hardness, durability and other essential properties. For many years the gold content of gold alloys
has been described on the basis of the carat. The term carat refers only the gold content of the
alloy and represents 1/24 part of the whole. Thus 24 carat indicates pure gold. The use of term
carat is less common now. It is more common to find the weight percentage of gold listed or to
have the alloy described in terms of fineness. The fineness also refers the gold content and
represents the number of parts of gold in each 1000 parts of alloy. Thus 24k gold is the same as
100% gold or 1000 fineness gold, and 18k gold would be designated as 750 fine.
Eutectic mixture:
when the metals are miscible in the liquid state but separate
into two phases in the solid state (heterogeneous). The two
phases usually precipitate as alternating very fine layers of
one phase over the other. An example of such a combination
is 72% Ag and 28%Cu, which is used as one of the
components in some dental amalgams. With this alloy the
eutectic is composed of fine, alternating layers of high-silver
and high-copper phases.
Shaping of metals or
alloys
⚫ Cold working
Mechanical shaping of the metal at relatively low temperatures, taking
advantage of the high values of ductility and malleability possessed by
many metals (e.g. formation or bending of wires).
⚫ Amalgamation
Some alloys can be mixed with mercury to form a plastic mass which
gradually hardens by a chemical reaction followed by crystallization.
⚫ Casting
Casting involves heating the material until it becomes molten, when it
can be forced into an investment mould which has been prepared from
a wax pattern.
Classification of dental alloys (ADA)
High-noble casting alloys
noble metal content > 60 wt% and gold content >40 wt%
1. Au-Ag-Pt alloys (gold content of >70 wt%)
2. Au-Cu-Ag-Pd I. (gold content of >70 wt%)
3. Au-Cu-Ag-Pd II. (gold content of ~50-65 wt%)
Material of choice
in dentistry
-HCP -BCC
Hexagonal Close Body Centered
Packed Cubic
Amalgam filling
Gold filling
Electrochemical corrosion