DENTAL INVESTMENTS

AND REFRACTORY
MATERIALS

Presented by-
Dr. Susovan Giri
 CONTENTS
 Introduction
 Definition
 Ideal requirements
 Classifications
 Composition
 Gypsum bonded investments
 Phosphate bonded investments
 Silica bonded investments
 Soldering investments
 References
 INTRODUCTION
 When the wax pattern is to be reproduced in an alloy a
mould is made in a material which will withstand the
temperature at which these alloys melt.
 The procedure of making such a mould is called
investing and the material used is the investment
material.
 DEFINITION
An INVESTMENT
can be described as
a ceramic material
which is suitable for
forming a mold into
which molten metal
or alloy is cast.
 IDEAL REQUIREMENTS
Easily manipulated and capable of reproducing
the size, shape and details recorded in the wax
pattern.
Sufficient strength at room temperature to
withstand the forces of molten metal.
Stability at high temperature and must not
decompose to give off gases that could damage
the surface of alloy.
 IDEAL REQUIREMENTS

It should have sufficient setting,

hygroscropic, thermal expansion to
compensate for the shrinkage of cast
metal on cooling.
Should be porous to permit escape of
gasses from the mould cavity.
Ease of divestment.
Should be inexpensive.
 CLASSIFICATIONS

A. Classification based on application (ISO

15912:2006)
Type 1: for the construction of inlays, crowns
and other fixed restorations
Type 2: for the construction of complete or
partial dentures or other removable appliances
Type 3: for the construction of casts used in
brazing procedures
Type 4: for the construction of refractory dies
 CLASSIFICATIONS
B. Classification based on type of binder used
There are three types of investment materials based on the
binder used.
1. Gypsum bonded investments - They are used for casting
gold alloys. They can withstand temperature up to 700 °C.

2.Phosphate bonded investments - For metal ceramic and

cobalt-chromium alloys. They can withstand higher
temperatures.

3. Ethyl silica bonded investments - They are an alternative

to the phosphate bonded investments, for high temperature
casting. They are principally used in the casting of base
metal alloy partial dentures.
 COMPOSITION
All investment materials contain a refractory, a
binder and modifiers.
Refractory
A refractory is a material that will withstand high
temperatures without decomposing or
disintegrating, e.g. silica.
 COMPOSITION
Binder
A material which will set and bind together
the particles of refractory substance, e.g.
gypsum, phosphate and silicate.

Chemical modifiers
Chemicals such as sodium chloride, boric
acid, potassium sulfate, graphite, copper
powder or magnesium oxide are added in
small quantities to modify properties.
GYPSUM BONDED INVESTMENTS
 COMPOSITION
◦ Silica is added as a refractory component.

◦ Binder: Alpha hemi hydrate. (Dental stone)

◦ Modifying agent: coloring agent and reducing

agent like C / Cu powder. They produce non
oxidizing atmosphere in the mould when gold
alloy is cast.

◦ Additives: Boric acid and Nacl to regulate

setting time and expansion, and to prevent
shrinkage of gypsum when heated above 3000C
 SETTING TIME

According to ADA Sp. No. 2 for inlay investments,

setting time should not be less than 5 minutes and
not more than 25 minutes. The modern inlay
investments set initially in 9 to 18 minutes. This
provides sufficient time for mixing and investing
the pattern.
Factors controlling setting time
1. Manufacturing process
2. Mixing time and rate
3. Water-powder ratio
4. Temperature
5. Modifiers—accelerators and retarders
 PROPERTIES
Thermal Behavior of Gypsum
When gypsum is heated above 700 °C, it
shows slight expansion and then great
amount of contraction.
The shrinkage is due to decomposition and
release of sulfur dioxide. It contaminates
the casting with the sulfides of silver and
copper.
So the gypsum bonded investments should
not be heated above 700 °C.
 PROPERTIES

Thermal Behavior of Silica

When heated, quartz or cristobalite
changes its crystalline form. This
occurs at a transition temperature,
characteristic of the particular form
of silica.
 PROPERTIES
Expansion
Expansion aids in enlarging the mold to
compensate for the casting shrinkage of the
gold alloys.
Three types of expansions may be seen
1. Normal setting expansion
2. Hygroscopic setting expansion
3. Thermal expansion
 PROPERTIES
Normal setting expansion
A mixture of silica and dental stone results in a
setting expansion
The silica particles probably interfere with the
intermeshing of the crystals as they form. Thus,
the thrust of the crystals is outward during growth.
ADA Sp. No. 2 for Type-I investment permits a
maximum setting expansion in air of 0.5%.
Modern investments show setting expansion of
0.4%. It is regulated by retarders and accelerators
 PROPERTIES
 Hygroscopic setting expansion (HSE)
 Occurs when the

gypsum product is
allowed to set under or
in contact with water
 Can be obtained from
Hygroscopic setting expansion

◦ Water immersion technique

◦ Water added
◦ Wet ring liner
 Greater magnitude

than the normal

setting expansion (> 6 times) Normal setting
expansion
 PROPERTIES
Factors to Control Normal and Hygroscopic
Setting Expansion
 Composition
◦ Proportional to the SiO2 content
◦ The finer the particle size of the SiO2, the greater
the hygroscopic expansion.
 Water:Powder Ratio
◦ Higher W:P  less expansion
 Spatulation
◦ Insufficient spatulation  decrease expansion
 Shelf life of the investment
◦ Older investment  lower expansion
 PROPERTIES

Time of Immersion
◦ Delayed immersion  decrease expansion
Water bath / Amount of Added Water
The magnitude of the expansion is in direct
proportion to the amount of water added
during the setting period until a maximum
expansion occurs.
 PROPERTIES
Thermal expansion
In case of gypsum investments,
thermal expansion (TE)
is achieved by placing
the mold in a furnace
at a temperature not
greater than 700 °C .
 PROPERTIES
Strength
According to ISO 15912:2006, the
compressive strength for investments
should not be less than 2 MPa when tested
2 hours after setting.
Storage
Investments should be stored in airtight
and moisture proof containers.
Purchase in small quantities.
 USES
For casting of inlays, fixed partial
dentures, removable partial denture
frameworks using gold alloys and other
low-fusing alloys.
PHOSPHATE BONDED
INVESTMENTS
 COMPOSITION
 Powder
 Ammonium diacid phosphate
NH4H2PO4
  It gives strength at room temperature.
  It reacts with silica at high
temperatures to increase strength at
casting temperatures.
 Silica in the form of quartz or cristobalite
(80%) functions as refractory.
 Magnesium oxide Reacts with phosphate
ions.
 Carbon Some investments contain
carbon while others are carbon free.
Carbon helps to produce clean castings
and helps in easier divestment from the
mold.
 COMPOSITION
Liquid
The phosphate bonded investments are
mixed with a special liquid supplied by
the
manufacturer. This liquid is a form of
silica sol in water, which gives higher
thermal expansion.
 SETTING REACTION
At room temperature ammonium diacid
phosphate reacts with magnesium oxide to
give the investment green strength or room
temperature strength.
NH4H2PO4 + MgO + 5H2O NH4MgPO4.H2O
 PROPERTIES
Expansion
Phosphate investments get their expansion
from three sources.
1. Wax pattern expansion - The heat during
setting allows a significant expansion of the
wax pattern.
2. Setting expansion - This is around 0.7 to
1%.
3. Thermal expansion - Ranges from
around 1 to 1.5%.
 PROPERTIES
Strength
Regular investments are generally
materials of low strength. Wet strength
ranges from 4–10 MPa. Wet strength is
important for handling the set material
prior to casting.
Dry strength is the strength of the
investment under high temperatures.
 PROPERTIES

Flow
Investments appear to have low flow
when mixed.
However, they flow readily and envelope
the pattern when poured into the mold
under vibration.
 MANIPULATION

Powder/liquid ratio - 16 to 23
ml/100 gm.
The powder is mixed with a
measured amount of liquid using a
bowl and spatula.
Following hand mixing for 20
seconds mechanical mixing under
vacuum is done for a further 90
seconds
Working time is around 8-9 minutes.
The mixed material is vibrated into
the casting ring or agar mold (RPD
framework).
 The material is allowed to bench set
for a minimum 30-45 minutes
depending on the particular
investment.
 USES
For casting high fusing alloys, e.g. high
fusing noble metal alloys, metal ceramic
alloys and base metal alloys like nickel-
chromium and cobalt-chromium.
 SILICA BONDED INVESTMENTS
 These investments materials are used for casting
alloys which have high casting temperature.
 They are used in the construction of the high
fusing base metal partial denture alloy.
 This type of investment is losing popularity
because of more complicated and time
consuming procedures involved.
 COMPOSITION

These investments are mixture of powder and

liquid.
 Powder consists of refractory particles of
silica in various forms, plus Mgo.
These investments are supplied along with two
bottles of special liquid.
One bottle contains dilute water-soluble
silicate solution such as sodium silicate.
The other bottle usually contains diluted acid
solution such as hydrochloric acid.
SOLDERING
INVESTMENTS
 TYPES
Based on the type of binder used brazing
investments are of two types.
1. Gypsum-bonded (for low melting
alloys)
2. Phosphate-bonded (for high melting
alloys)
COMPOSITION
The investment for soldering purpose is
similar to casting investments
containing quartz and
a calcium sulfate hemihydrate/or
phosphate binder.
 PROPERTIE
S
Soldering investments are designed to have
lower setting (0.2%) and thermal expansions
(0.6–1%) than casting investments.
Soldering investments do not have as fine a
particle size as the casting investment, since
the smoothness of the mass is less important.
The compressive strength is generally low
(between 2 to 10 MPa).
Water-powder ratio ranges from 0.24 to 0.28.
Setting time ranges from 15 to 20 minutes.
 USES
Joining segments of fixed partial dentures
Fixing clasps on cast RPDs.
 Attaching precision attachments.
 REFERENCES
Phillipsscience of dental materials 11th edn:
Anusavice
Applied dental materials 5th edn:
John N Anderson
Applied dental materials:
John F McCabe
Restorative dental materials:
Craig
Restorative dental materials:
Floyd A Peyton