Investment Materials

VA R S H A A M M U
VA R G H E SE
1ST YR PG
 Contents

Introduction
History
Definition
Requirements
Material science
Types of investments
Investing procedure
Defects in investing procedure
Conclusion
References
Introduction
The adoption of the casting practice in dentistry for making crowns, bridges, gold alloy inlays
and other restorations represent one of the major advancement in restorative dentistry
Investing: the process of covering or enveloping, wholly or in part, an object such as denture,
tooth, wax form, crown, etc. with a suitable investment material before processing, soldering or
casting. (GPT 8)
History
The first authenticated record of use of investing casting in dentistry was given by Dr.Philbrook
in 1897.
But the true significance of this process was given
after research by Dr.Williams.H.Taggart in 1907
Definition
Dental Casting Investment
A material consisting primarily of an allotrope of silica and a bonding agent.
The bonding substance may be gypsum (for use in lower casting temperatures)
or phosphates and silica (for use in higher casting temperatures).GPT9

Investment
An investment can be described as a ceramic material that is suitable for
forming a mold into which a metal or alloy is cast. CRAIG
REQUIREMENTS OF INVESTMENT MATERIALS

Easily manipulated
Sufficient strength at room temperature
Stability at higher temperatures
Sufficient expansion
Beneficial casting temperatures
Porosity
Smooth surface
Ease of divestment
Inexpensive.
Composition
In general an investment is a mixture of three distinct types
of materials:
a)Refractory material
b)Binder material
c)Modifiers to improve the properties
REFRACTORY MATERIAL

It is available in four allotropic

Material capable of sustaining exposure to high forms such as

temperature without significant degradation. Quartz

Tridymite
SILICA (silicon dioxide) is used as refractory Cristobalite
Fused quartz
material & to regulate the thermal expansion.

Quartz and Cristobalite are used extensively in dental investments

Each form of silica exists in two phases.
1.Low temperature phase or alpha phase
2.High temperature phase or Beta phase

On heating the change between the two phases is rapid and it is readily reversible on cooling .
This change is known as high –low inversion .
α quartz β quartz
(low form) ▲ 575° C (high form)
α cristobalite
βcristobalite
▲ 200°- 270° C
BINDER MATERIAL

Functions:
- Hold the ingredients together
- Provide rigidity
The common binders used are:
1) Gypsum-for low temperature casting investments.
2) Phosphate & ethyl silicate-for high temperature casting investments
CHEMICAL MODIFIERS

Chemicals such as sodium chloride, boric acid, graphite, copper powder,

are often added in small quantities to modify physical properties

BORIC ACID&SODIUM CHLORIDE

Regulate setting expansion and setting time and thus prevent most of the
shrinkage of gypsum when heated above 300 C .
COPPER POWDER& GRAPHITE
Act as reducing agents.
CLASSIFICATION
According to type of binder used

Gypsum bonded Ethyl silicate bonded

investments investments

Phosphate bonded investments

Gypsum bonded investments

Used for conventional casting of gold alloy inlays,onlays ,crowns&FPD’s.

ADA sp-2: divided them further into:

 TYPE I- for casting inlays/crowns-mode of expansion: Thermal
 TYPE II- for casting inlays/onlays/crowns-mode of expansion: Hygroscopic
 TYPE III- for partial dentures with gold alloys.
They are used for casting gold alloys


They can withstand temp up to 700

C
Phosphate bonded investments
For alloys used to produce copings or frameworks for metal-ceramic
prosthesis, pressable ceramics.
ADA sp-42 divided them further into:
- TYPE 1: for inlays, crowns and other fixed restorations.

- TYPE 2 : for partial dentures and other cast removable restorations.

Ethyl silicate bonded investments

Used principally in casting of RPD with base metal alloys.

- Brazing investment or soldering investment
Used for brazing parts of a restoration such as clasps on RPD.
Acc to ADA sp-93
- TYPE I: gypsum bonded dental brazing investment
- TYPE II: Phosphate bonded brazing investments.
Classification:- According A.D.A specification no.2 for casting
investments for dental gold alloys.

Type – I-Are those employed for the casting of inlays or crowns when the allow casting shrinkage
compensation is accomplished principally by thermal expansion of the investment.
Type – II-compensation for alloy shrinkage is by the hygroscopic expansion
Type III-Investments are used in the construction of partial denture with gold alloys

They are used for casting gold alloys and can withstand temp up to
700 C
Composition

Refractory
Crystalline polymorphs of silica (quartz or cristobalite)
65-75%
Silica is added to provide a refractory component during the
heating of the investment and to regulate the
thermal expansion
When these silica forms are heated change in
crystalline form occurs at transition
temperature…inversion from a low form known
as alpha to a high form beta occurs.
- quartz: transition temperature is 575oc
- cristoballite: 200-270 oc
Density decreases as alpha form changes to beta
form with resulting increase in volume that is
exhibited by a rapid increase in linear
expansion.
Binder
Alpha hemi hydrate form of
gypsum(30-35%)
It is used as binder for investments used
in casting gold containing alloys with
melting ranges below 1000 oc
MODIFIER - (4-7%)Used are :
Reducing agents
Modifying chemicals
Coloring matter
Reducing agents : they reduce any metal
oxides formed on the metal by providing a
non oxidizing atmosphere in the mold
when the alloy enters mold.
 Ex– Copper
Modifying chemicals
They regulate setting expansion and thermal expansion and also prevent shrinkage of gypsum when
heated above 300 oc .
They act by reducing the two large contractions of gypsum binder on heating to temperatures
above 300 oc .
Ex– Boric acid
Soluble salts of alkali or alkaline earth
metals
Setting time

 According to ANSI/ADA Specification

No. 2 for dental inlay casting investment,
the setting time should not be shorter than
5 min or longer than 25 min. Usually, the
modern inlay investments set initially in 9
to 18 min.
SETTING EXPANSION

Setting expansion are of three type:

 Normal setting expansion
 Hygroscopic setting expansion
 Thermal expansion
Purpose: To enlarge the mold to compensate for the casting shrinkage of the gold alloy
Setting reaction

Dissolution of calcium sulfate hemihydrate

Formation of saturated solution of calcium sulfate
Aggregation of calcium sulfate dihydrate
Precipitation of dihydrate crystals
The crystallization of calcium sulfate dihydrate occurs while
most of the remaining hemihydrate particles dissolve.
References

• Phillips sccience of dental materials

Kenneth J.Annusavice -11th edition
• Introduction to dental materials
Richard van noort -1st edition
• Applied dental materials
John F.Mc.Cabe -8TH edition
• Dental materials and their selection
Willian J .O’Brien -2nd edition
• Restorative dental materials
Robert .G.Craig -11th EDITION