DENTAL MATERIAL 302

CHAPTER THREE
INVESTMENT MATERIAL
BY
DR: MOHAMED MESAED
MOBILE: 01007060099
YEAR: 2022
 Investment
- Definition: Ceramic material means can withstand high temperature used for making a mold into which metal or alloy is cast
S.N: Ideal requirements of investment materials:
1. G.R: Investment materials should withstand high temperature? - To avoid decomposition during casting
2. G.R: Investment materials should have some expansion? - To compensate for casting or solidification shrinkage of metal
3. Sufficient strength at room temperature to withstand manipulation without fracture
4. Sufficient strength at high temperature to withstand force of molten alloy entering mold
5. G.R: Investment materials should be porous? - To allow escape of air or gases during casting
6. Produce a smooth surface and fine details of casting. 7. Broken away easily after casting 8. Cheap and easy manipulation
Composition of investment (refractory – binder – modifiers)
1. Refractory material (65%): - Main composition or ingredient - Consist of silica
- S.N: Function or role of silica or refractory material:
1. Withstands high temperature
2. Produces thermal expansion for investment by displacive transformation of silica from β to α during casting to
compensate some of solidification shrinkage of metal.
Polymorphism
- Silica exists as: 1) Quartz (Hexagonal). 2) Tridymite (Rhombohedral). 3) Cristobalite (Cubic). 4) Amorphous or fused quartz
- All having same chemical formula "SiO2" but have different crystal structure and physicals structure.
- All allotropic forms can exist as β and α - α is more stable at room temperatures - β is more stable at high temperatures
Effect of heat on refractory material
Reconstructive transformation
β-Fused quartz 1713°c β-Cristobalite 1470°c β-Tridymite 870°c β-Quartz

)Amorphous( )Cubic( )Rhombohedral( )Hexagonal(

270°c 160°c 525°c

α-Cristobalite α-Tridymite α-Quartz

Displacive transformation
)Cubic( )Rhombohedral( )Hexagonal(
)1.6%expansion at 400°c( )1%expansion at 600°c( )1.4%expansion at 600°c(

N.B: Best one or high expansion is cristobalite so used in crown and bridge then quartz moderate used in soldering -
:Binder (30%) .2
1. α-Gypsum will produce (Gypsum bonded investment)
2. Magnesium ammonium phosphate will produce (Phosphate bonded investment)
3. Polysilisic acid will produce (Silicate bonded investment)
- Function or role of binders:
1. Binds the silica particles 2. Provide more strength to material
3. In some types of investment, provides setting and hygroscopic expansion which share in compensation of shrinkage of metal

1
3. Modifiers (5%):
1. Prevent oxidation of molten alloy during casting example graphite
2. They produce smooth surface mold 3. Regulate setting time and setting expansion example boric acid
:Classification of investment according to binder or types of investment or comparison between three types of investment -

Gypsum Phosphate Sili

Point of Bonded Bonded Bon
comparison Investment Investment investm
Powder/Water Powder/Water Powder/ 2 liq
Form of supply Used with gold )Used with gold( Used with base me
And
Powder/special liquid
)silica sol(
)Used with base metals(
α CaSO4.2H2O Magnesium Polysilisic acid
Binder )Act as bin der( ammonium phosphate )Act as bin
)Act as binder - green strength(
Setting expansion Setting expansion Setting shrinkage du
Properties due to crystal growth due to crystal growth which is higher gela
when mixed with special liquid Called )change from sol to
Dimensional )a( Hygroscopic )silica sol( )Green shrink
changes during expansion when during dryness at 1
setting allowed to set under Hygroscopic expansion High heat shrinkage at 7
water giving additional Is negligible when mixed with water but due to transformation of polysi
room for crystal growth high when mixed with special liquid acid gel into cristob

From 200-400°c Thermal expansion of silica due to Thermal expansion of

Dimensional )b( shrinkage occur due to displasive transformation from β to α amount of silica at hi
changes during dehydration of the temperature due to displa
heating binder this can be transformation from β
eliminated by addition
of chemicals (boric
acid)

From 400-700°c
Thermal expansion of
silica due to displasive
transformation from β
to α
Strength Strong Stronger Stron
Porous Porous Non porous so Artificial ven
Porosity required to allow escape o
from mold in order to prevent
pressure porosity
incomplete cas
Metallic ring Rubber ring which Rubber ring w
Casting ring )Copper( is removed after setting is removed
lined of the investment if mix se
with wet with special liquid of the investm
asbestos Metallic ring
paper If mixed with water

2
 Casting of gold Casting of base metal alloys when Casting of
Uses alloys mixed with special liquid metal al
as the total as the
amount Casting of gold alloys when mixed am
of its expansion with water of its expan
)1.6%+( )2.3
is It called universal investment
equal to the equal to
solidification solidifica
shrinkage shrin
of gold of base m
Alloys (- 1.6%) Alloys (- 2.

- Gypsum bonded investment suitable for alloys melt below 1000°c as gold alloys
- Silicate bonded investment suitable for alloys melt above 1000°c as base metals alloys (titanium + castable ceramics)
- Phosphate bonded investment is suitable for both according to liquid (Universal)
- G.R. Silicate bonded investment or phosphate bonded investment mixed with silica sol used with base metal? - withstand
high temperature of it and compensate solidification shrinkage of it (-2.3%).
- G.R. Gypsum bonded investment or phosphate bonded investment mixed with water used with gold? - withstand gold
temperature (1100°C) and compensate solidification shrinkage of it (-1.6%).
Effects of temperature on gypsum bonded investment
Reading only for MCQ:
- Heating from 200-400°c it contracts due to dehydration of binder this can be eliminated by addition of chemicals (boric acid)
- From 400 -700°c it expands again due to the transformation of the α form to the β form of silica
- Above 700°c: binder (gypsum) CaSO4 will react with carbon in investment and leading to evolution of sulfur trioxide gas (SiO 3)
causing contamination and porosity of the casting
- Above (1000°c - 1200°c): During melting of high fusing dental alloys (base metal) such as nickel chromium and cobalt
chromium alloy this will lead to decomposition of the binder (gypsum) CaSO4 leading to evolution of sulfur trioxide gas (SiO3)
causing porosity of the casting
- G.R. Gypsum bonded investment not used with base metals alloys? - Because will lead to decomposition of binder and then
react with carbon in investment and leading to evolution of sulfur trioxide gas causing contamination and porosity of casting

3
Gold crown Primary impression

Primary cast lower molar six

Wax sprue

4
5
Melting of gold alloy Gold alloy