Dental Casting Alloys

Dental Casting Alloys:

These alloys are used in lab to Construct the Indirect metallic restorations
e.g. inlays, onlays, crowns, bridges, and removable partial denture

Dental Casting Alloys types according to use:

1. All metallic restoration.
2. Porcelain fused to metal restoration
( Ceramo-metallic restoration)

Ideal Requirements of
dental casting alloys

Functional Working
Requirements requirements

High yeild Fatique High sag

Stiff Resilient Alloys for ceramo Ease of casting Ease of soldering resistance (high Ease of burnish-
ability
strenght resistance melting
temperature)
-metallic
restorations
should be
compatible with
porcelain
A ) Functional Requirements of dental casting alloys:
1)Stiff (high modulus of elasticity):
It is the resistance to elastic deformation under the masticatory forces.
Stiffness :allow equal distribution of the stresses over the
area.

unequal distribution of the stresses lead to stress concentration ,bending, bone resorption

Metals with high modulus of elasticity allow equal distribution to the stresses over the area.
It can be consequently constructed in thin section.

2) Resilient
It is the ability to absorb energy without plastic deformation during mastication so the stresses
are not transmitted to the supporting tissue.
Dental casting alloys should be resilient to absorb energy of mastication and transmit less force
to underlying bone:
1.To be more comfortable to the patient.
2.To decrease bone resorption.

3) High yield strength

High yield strength is required to resist permanent
deformation (distortion)under the masticatory stresses in
the mouth.
4) Fatigue Resistance
High to resist cyclic loading.
5) High tarnish and corrosion resistance
6) Alloys for ceramo-metallic restorations should be compatible with porcelain
 Gold Alloys
Ceramo-metallic Restorations (Metal substructure [Strength]+Ceramic[Aesthetic])
The metal substructure is first cast, then porclain powder is mixed with water and the paste is
applied on the bridge then fired.
Porcelain Fused to Metal
Metals should have:
• High m.t: to resist sag during firing of the porcelain [Deformation of metal at high
temperature]
• High modulus of elasticity to increase the fracture resistance of porcelain
• The coefficient of thermal expansion & contraction must match that of porcelain
• Must be able to form surface oxides to form strong bond with porcelain.
• Must not discolor porcelain

B) Working Requirements:
1) Ease of casting

2) Ease of soldering

3)High sag resistance (high melting temperature)

ability of the alloy to resist distortion(permanent deformation) at high temperature, during
soldering and firing of porcelain)
4) Ease of burnish-ability:
Allows for burnishing of restorations(to adjust or adapt the restoration)
High ductility(% elongation) for proper marginal adaptation (proper adjusted)
Types of Dental Casting Alloys according to composition:
I. Noble metal alloys
 Gold alloys
 Silver palladium
 Palladium silver

II. Base metal alloys

 Cobalt chromium
 Nickel chromium.
 Titinum & titanium alloys

Noble Metal Casting alloy

1. Cast gold alloy
General composition of gold alloys:
a) Noble metals and their effect on properties:
1)Gold: a high noble metal resists tarnish and corrosion. It has low strength, hardness and high
ductility. Gold is alloyed with several metals to modify its properties.
2) Platinum: a noble metal It increases strength and hardness of gold
3) Palladium: cheaper than platinum, used as a replacement for platinum.
Palladium as low as 5% has a pronounced effect on whitening the color of gold alloy
4) Silver: stronger and harder than gold
Palladium is effective in preventing corrosion of silver during casting of gold
alloys.
5) Irridium: As a little as 0.005% is effective in refining the grain size of gold alloy

b) Base metals:
1) Copper: malleable and ductile metal. It increases strength and hardness of gold
Copper is an important factor in heat treatment of gold alloys.
2) Zinc: acts as a scavenger (deoxidizing agent) during melting and casting of gold alloys.
3) Indium & Tin: They produce oxides in porcelain alloys, which help bonding with porcelain.

 Heat treatment of gold restoration

• It is done to modify the mechanical properties of gold alloys.
• It is done by heating the restoration and then cooling (rate of cooling will determine the
properties)
 Heat Treatment

Hardening heat treatment

Softening heat treatment
(Age hardening)

Heating to 450°c and slow

10 mins. 700°c cooling 15-30 mins. 450-
200°c

Lowe strenght, hardness, Higher stenght, hardeness,

high ductility lower ductility

To adjust or adapt the To be used in pt mouth

restoration

Classification of gold alloys

I- According to gold content:
For many years the gold content of gold alloys has been described by carat or fineness.

 The carat of an alloy is the parts of pure gold in 24 parts of alloy.

24 carat gold= pure gold
18 carat gold= 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals

 The fineness of a gold alloy is the parts per thousand of pure gold.
1000 fine=pure gold
This classification is not suitable in Dentistry as they refer to the amount of gold only and
do not determine the other metals which may have a pronounced effect over the
properties.

II. According to Mechanical Properties:

Type Mechanical properties

Type I (soft) low strength ,soft, high ductility, can withstand only slight
stresses
Type II (medium) Higher strength, it can with stand moderate stresses

Type III (hard) Hard and strong

Type IV (extra Extra hard and the strongest type.

hard
Type Gold Copper Yield %Elongation Uses
% % strength
MPa

Type I (soft) 87 4 140 18% Inlays

Type II (medium) 76 8 140 –200 18% Onlays

Type III (hard) 70 10 200 -340 12% Crowns

Short bridges
Type IV (extra 65 15 340 -500 10% Post & core
hard Crowns
long bridges
PD
 Only Type III and Type IV respond to heat treatment because their gold copper
ratio allows the precipitation of the ordered structure (AuCu) in the parent alloy.
 This is not in Type I and Type II, therefore they don’t respond to heat treatment

III- According to alloys description:

By color:
- White gold
- Yellow gold
Based on low gold content:
- Economy gold
- Minimum 75% noble metals

a) Economy Dental Gold Alloys

Characteristics:
 Gold-content is reduced to 40-60%
 Do not contain Platinum
 Alloying elements are mostly silver & palladium
 Copper improves mechanical properties by heat
treatment.
 Properties resemble Types III & IV

To avoid tarnish & corrosion of the economy dental gold alloys:

1. Palladium & silver % should be balanced 3:1 to avoid the tarnish of silver.
2. Copper & silver % should be balanced in order not to exceed their solubility limit.

Economy Gold
Gold 42-58%
• ADAS: Minimum 75% noble metals. The reduction in gold was replaced by palladium, silver.
Palladium, silver, copper ratio becomes very critical
1% palladium was required for every 3% silver to offset the tarnish tendency of the silver.
If silver copper ratio not carefully balanced, this resulting in tarnish, even with correct
palladium silver content due to the limited solubility of silver in copper leading to the
precipitation of silver rich phase in the microstructure (Heterogeneous structure).

2. Other Noble Metal Alloys

 Silver (70%) Palladium (25%)
When Au is not present ,Cu should be avoided
 Palladium (60%) Silver (30%) +Tin Indium

a) Silver palladium and palladium silver alloys

They are used for crown and bridge as alternative to gold alloys Type III and Type IV.
They are less expensive than gold alloys.

• Problems with their use:

– Lower density which requires greater centrifugal force for casting.
– Lower ductility that results in lower burnish ability.
– Their tendency to gas absorption during melting and casting. The gas absorbed will come out
and cause porosity.
– Therefore they need specialized equipment for melting and casting.

In general it should be kept in mind that the higher the gold content, the better is the fit
and marginal adaptation of the restorations.

Gold Restorations:
a) Direct
Pure Gold Foil
b) In direct
Gold bridges

Base Metal Alloys

1. Cobalt chromium alloy

2. Nickel chromium alloy
3. Commercially pure titanium (Cp) and titanium alloys

Uses in Dentistry:
1. Removable partial denture framework.
2. Full denture bases.
3. Crown and bridge.
4. Dental implants.
Role of Each Element:

1- Cobalt: Increase strength, hardness and modulus of elasticity

2- Chromium 12-30 %: Passive layer (CrO) should be thin, uniformal, non-porous and
adherent. Thicker than 30% of chromium embrittles the alloy.
3- Nickel: Increase strength, hardness, modulus of elasticity and ductility
Nickel is a well-known metal to produce allergic reaction in some patients. In such
cases it is advised also to use a Nickel-free Co-Cr alloys.
4- Molybdenum: Increase strength (grain refiner)
5- Silicon and Manganese: Increase fluidity of the molten alloy thus improve castability
and act as deoxidizers
6- Carbon 0.2%: Appears as discontinuous Carbides at the grain boundaries. Increase
strength, hardness andodulus of elasticity
7- Aluminum: Increase strength with Nickel (Ni3Al nickel aluminide) intermetallic
compound

Carbon can combine with any of other alloying elements to form carbides at the grain
boundaries
• increases the strength and hardness of the alloy
• A change in the carbon content in the order of +_0.2% will change the properties:
• A decrease by 0.2% than the desired percentage gives an alloy with low strength, and
hardness.
• An increase of carbon byo.2 % over the desired percentage gives a too hard and brittle alloy
(continuous carbide formation at the grain boundaries).

8- Beryllium: Increase fluidity of the molten alloy thus improve castability, Lowers the Tm
of alloy by 100°C
Beryllium vapor is carcinogenic and may lead to fibrosis of the lungs. Therefore many
alloys are available now free of beryllium.
9- Titanium: Increase tarnish and corrosion resistance
Cobalt Nickel Titanium Gold type III &
chromium chromium IV
Biocompatability Nickel allergic Biocompatible
Beryllium vapor is carcinogenic due to its
nobility
Physical
properties
A) Resistance
to tarnish
&
corrosion
Excellent
B) Color Lustrous silver white Yellow or white
C) Fusion TM 1300°C 1700°C 1400°C 800-1050°C
D) Denisty 7-8 gm/cm3 4.5% gm/cm3 15-18 gm/cm3
 E) Casting 2.3% 1.6%
shrinkage

Mechanical properties of (commercially pure Titanium) are similar to gold alloy type III
and IV.
While those of Titanium alloy are similar to Cobalt Chromium and Nickel chromium
alloys.
Mechanical Cobalt Nickel Titanium Gold type III
properties chromum chromium and IV
a) E(MPa) 250x10 200x10 100x 10
b) Yield 600-700 300-500
strength
(MPa)
c) Ultimate 800 700
strength
(MPa)
d) Hardness 350 vhn 250 vhn
(VHN)

% Elongation 1-2% 8-20%

Casting Technique Sensitive Thick oxygen Not tech.
Carbon & Nitrogen layer will dec. sensetive
Increasing 0.1 nitrogen resulting strength
brittle casting
Invesment Carbon-free phosphate or silicate investment with vents Gypsum &
phosphate
Casting ring Rubber ring Metallic ring
Melting Oxygen acetylene Electrical Gas air torch
melting
Casting Centrifugal pressure + Special casting maschine under Air pressure
machines vaccum casting machine
Finishing & Difficult but No pickling Sand blasting for Acid pickling
polishing retain their because it finishing00
polished surface attacks the
passive layer
 Titanium and titanium alloys:

- Uses in dentistry:
• All metal restorations, metal-ceramic restorations, implant and RPD.
• Form oxide film (10 nm) with surrounding oxygen = corrosion resistance.
• Most biocompatible.
• High melting point (1668 c).
• High rate of oxidation (above 900 c)
- In dental field:
• Commercial Pure Titanium (CP Ti)
• Ti alloys

For acceptable castability

• Special casting machine is required:
• Arc melting capability.
• An argon atmosphere.
• Investment containing oxides & high strength.
• Special tools for finishing.

Commercial Titanium (CP Ti)

• Beta phase
• Alpha phase
 Problem with porcelain
Should be below 800 c

Alpha phase Beta phase

(strong material) (high melting temp.)

Caustic NaOH- Resist sag

based solution deformation.

low coefficient
Silicon nitride
of thermal
cautings
expansion.

- Criteria of CP Ti:
- * Modulus of elasticity
• - Comparable to enamel & noble alloys.
- Lower than base metal alloys.
- * Corrosion resistance
• Excellent
- * Flexual & fatigue strength
• Inc. by inc. oxygen content.
 Stabilizers

Alpha Beta
stabilizers stabilizers

Aluminum Carbon Molybdenum Cobalt Tantalum Vanadium

Nitrogen Gallium Nickel Niobium Palladium Copper

• Will form no Beta phase on cooling

Alpha alloy • May contain Alpha stabilizers.

• Will form limited amount of Beta phase on cooling.

Near-alpha • Alloying with small amount of Beta stabilizers.
alloy

• Combination of Alpha & Beta stabilizers.

• Heat treatable.
Alpha-Beta
alloy • Contain Alpha (room temp.) / may contain retained or transformed Beta.

• Contain Beta stabilizers.

Beta alloy
• Heat treatment = Inc. strength.