DENTAL CASTING ALLOYS

DENTAL CASTING
ALLOYS

MODERATOR: PRESENTED BY:

Dr. Mamatha Veena PG 1ST yr
CONTENTS :
 History
 Structure and properties of cast dental alloys
 Classification of dental alloys
 Noble metal alloys
 Base metal alloys
 Conclusion
 References
INTRODUCTION : metals

Dental
composites polymers
materials

ceramics
 Metal :Any strong and relatively ductile substance that
provides electro positive ions to a corrosive environment and that

can be polished to a high lustre ;characterised by metallic atomic

bonding .(GPT-9)
 Alloy: An alloy is defined as a mixture of two or more metals or
metalloids that are mutually soluble in the molten state distinguished as

binary , tertiary, quaternary etc. , depending on the number of metals

within the mixture.(GPT-9)e mutually soluble in molten state; distinguished as

binary , tertiary, quaternary eix
 CASTING:
Something that has
been cast in a mold; an
object formed by the
solidification of a fluid
that has been poured or
injected into a mold.
 HISTORY

 Etruscans used ivory and bone supported by gold frame works as tooth forms .
 1907 :- The Lost wax process “(Taggart)”

 1930:-Ni-Cr-Co alloys

 1932:- Classification of gold based casting alloys

 1948:- palladium alloys

 1950:- porcelain-fused to metal prosthesis

 1976 : Medical and Dental Devices Act.
CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES OF METALS:

Metallic bonding :
Lustre.
 It is the force of
attraction between
Ductility & Malleability.
the free valence
electrons and metal
Good conductors of heat
atoms.
and electricity.
Time – temperature cooling curve of a pure metal

Decreases steadily
Molten metal

Solid +liquid
constant

increases

Decreases steadily
Solid metal
Nucleus formation :
SOLIDIFICATION PROCESS :
Atoms within each grain are arranged in regular three dimensional lattice
Dislocations :
SOLID SOLUTIONS:
Coring :
 Under rapid freezing conditions alloy has a cored structure.
 Core consists of dendrites composed of compositions with higher solid temperature
 Matrix is the portion between dendrites composed of compositions with low solidus
temperature
Homogenization :
 Coring markedly reduces the corrosion resistance of some alloys.
 To prevent this heat treatment is used.
 This is know as homogenisation.
Eutectic alloys :
 It is the one in which components exhibit complete liquid solubility but limited
solid solubility.
 The alloy has lowest melting point than either of the components.
Peri tectic alloys:
 This is also a invariant transformation like eutectic, occurring at particular
temperature and composition.
FUNCTIONAL MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CASTING ALLOYS

Elastic modulus :
• Increased elastic modulus increases rigidity.
Fatigue resistance :
• Loading and unloading below its elastic limit.
• Usually fracture of protheses and restorations develop progressively over many stress
cycles.
Ductility :
 It is the amount of plastic deformation that an alloy can undergo under tensile stress
before it gets fractured.
Hardness:

 It is measure of the resistance of the surface to indentation

by an object in spherical or diamond shaped point.

Yield strength:

 It is the amount of stress needed for 0.2% plastic

deformation.
 Tarnish and corrosion: ability to resist tarnish and corrosion
 Porcelain bonding: ability of forming thin adherent oxide
 Cast ability : molten alloy should flow freely without forming voids on its
surface.
 Thermally compatible
 Economical.
 Biocompatible :

Leaching of nickel, chromium, and beryllium ions from base metal alloy in an
artificial oral environment
 Tai et al ,concluded Occlusal wear increases the concentrations of metals in the
leachable two to three times compared with dissolution alone.

J Prosthet Dent.1992;68(4):692-697
 Composition of Dental Casting
Alloys
• Various metallic elements are combined in different proportions to
produce alloys with adequate properties for dental applications.
• The metals that are used to make dental alloys are broadly of two major
groups:
• Noble metals and Base metals

24
METALLIC ELEMENTS USED IN DENTISTRY :

Noble metals Base metals

Gold
Platinum Copper
Iridium Zinc
osmium Indium
Palladium Tin
Ruthenium Gallium
Rhodium nickel
GOLD :
 soft, malleable , ductile , rich yellow colour.

 strong metallic lustre.

 relatively low in strength.
 dissolves in aqua regia, potassium cyanide ,solutions of bromine and

chlorine.
PLATINUM:
 Bluish white metal
 Tough ,ductile , malleable
 High fusing temperature
PALLADIUM:
 white metal
 density is more compared to gold and platinum
 it has quality of absorbing and occluding large quantities of hydrogen gas when heated
IRIDIUM RUTHENIUM RHODIUM

 ruthenium and iridium are used alloys as grain refiners

 rhodium has high melting point
 used with platinum to form thermo couples.
SILVER:
 malleable ,ductile white metal, harder.
 best known conductor of heat and electricity
 it is not considered as noble metal because of its severe tarnishing nature
 BASE METALS
•Cobalt
•Nickel
•Copper
•Chromium
•Iron
•Manganese
COPPER:
 red colour ,malleable ,ductile and
 forms series of solid solution with gold and palladium
 high thermal and electrical conductivity
ZINC :

 blue – white metal , soft ,brittle with low strength.

 deoxidizing agent and tarnishes in moist air.
INDIUM :
 soft ,grey white metal ,low melting point.
 not tarnished by air or water.
 used in gold based alloys as replacement for zinc.
TIN :
 Lustrous, soft ,white metal
 Used with gold based alloys
GALLIUM:
 Grayish metal and Tarnishes in moist air
 Component of gold based and ceramic alloys
 Oxides of gallium are important to the bonding of the ceramic to the
metal
COBALT:
 Imparts hardness, strength and rigidity to the alloy.
 It has a high melting point.
NICKEL:
 It increases ductility.
 Decreases strength, hardness, elastic modulus and fusion temperature.
CHROMIUM:
 Responsible for tarnish and corrosion resistance.
 Reduces the melting point.
 Also acts in solid solution hardening.
 30% is the maximum limit to attaining maximum mechanical properties
(ZIGMA-BRITTLE)
CLASSIFICATION OF DENTAL CASTING ALLOYS
Alloy classification by noble metal content—American dental association (1984)

ALLOY TYPE TOTAL NOBLE METAL CONTENT

 High noble(hn)  Must contain ≥40% Au and ≥60% by weight of

noble metal elements*.

 Noble (n)  Must contain ≥25% by weight of noble metal

elements.

 Predominantly base (pb)  Metals contain<25% by weight of noble metal

elements.
Revised American Dental Association classification of dental casting
alloys
class Required noble Required gold Required
content(%) content(%) titanium
content(%)
High noble alloys >60 >40
Titanium and >85
titanium alloys
Noble alloys >25
Predominantly >25
base metals

•Dent clin N Am 51 (2007) 591-601.

Mechanical Property Requirements Proposed in ISO Draft International Standard 1562 for
Casting Gold Alloys (2002)

Typ descripto Yield Elongati applications

e r strength(mp on(%)
a)
1 low 80 18 Inlays.
2 medium 180 10 Inlays and onlays.
3 hard 270 5 Onlays , Pontics, Full crowns, saddles.
4 Extra hard 360 3 Saddles, bars, clasps, crowns ,bridges, and partial
denture frame works.
Classification of Metallic Material for Dental Applications—ISO 22674
(2006)*
Classification of Casting Metals for Full-Metal and Metal-Ceramic Prostheses and
Partial Dentures
NOBLE METAL ALLOYS:

Noble metal : those metal elements that resist oxidation, tarnish, and corrosion during
heating, casting, or soldering and when used intraorally.
Categorized as : Au-Pt
1) High noble alloys: Au-Pd
Au-Ag-Cu
Pd-Ag
2) Noble alloys : low gold alloys
Au-Ag-Pd Pd-Ga
no gold alloys (Pd-Cu-Ga)
 GOLD BASED ALLOYS:

Types uses
Type 1-soft inlays

Type 2-medium inlays

Type 3-hard Crowns and inlays

Type 4-extra hard Bridges and partial denture

frame work
 GOLD PLATINUM PALLADIUM ALLOYS:
 This is one of the oldest metal ceramic alloy system.
 Composition:
Gold – 75% to 88%
Palladium – Upto11%
Platinum – Upto 8%
Silver – 5%
 Trace elements like rhenium ,Indium, Iron and Tin are present.
 Low in sag resistance
GOLD-PALLADIUM-SILVER ALLOYS:
 Composition (High Silver Group):
Gold – 39% to 53%
Silver – 12% to 22%
Palladium – 25% to 35
trace amount of oxidizable elements are present.
• Excellent tarnish and corrosion
GOLD-PALLADIUM ALLOYS:

 Composition:
Gold – 44% to 55%
Gallium – 5%
Palladium – 35% to 45%
Indium & Tin – 8% to 12%
Indium, Gallium and Tin are the oxidizable elements
 Lower thermal expansion (used for lower expansion porcelains)
SILVER –PALLADIUM ALLOYS:
 Composition:
Palladium – 55% - 60%
Silver – 28% - 30%
Indium and tin.
 Palladium increases melting range &lowers thermal coeffient of expansion and vice
versa with silver.
 Internal oxide formation.
 HIGH PALLADIUM ALLOYS:

More popular composition groups contained cobalt and copper.

Composition :
• Palladium – 78% to 88%
• Cobalt – 4% to 10%
• Trace amounts of oxidable elements
BASE METAL ALLOYS
NICKEL-CHROMIUM ALLOYS :

Ni High Cr High Mo : Ni – Cr alloys : Ni-Cr-Be :

Be- 2- 4% wt
Cr: 16-27%
Mo:> 6% Ni- 61 - 81%wt
Cr- 11 - 27 %wt
Mo- 2- 5%wt

Among these three Type 1 showed lowest corrosion resistance

Type 2 showed high dissolution of Ni & Be

• Mostly used for crowns ,PFM, and fixed partial dentures
• Harder than noble metals
• Low yield strength.
• High elastic modulus.
• Higher casting temperature (1155 to 1304°C).
• As they can be etched electrochemically, resin-bonded fixed prostheses has come
into use clinically commonly known as "Maryland Bridges”.
COBALT-CHROMIUM ALLOYS:
Composition :
Cobalt-53 to 67 wt%
Chromium- 25 to 30 wt%
Molybdenum -2 to 6wt%
Carbon in trace amounts.
 During crystallization carbides precipitates into interdendritic regions forming grain
boundaries.This forms continuous phase leading to brittleness.

 Provides tarnish and corrosion resistance.

 These alloys are stronger than Ni-Cr alloys and noble alloys.
 Cast removable partial denture framework.
 Crowns and bridges.
Corrosion behaviour and surface analysis of a co-cr and two Ni-cr alloys
before and after simulated porcelain firing.

 Conclusion: Co-Cr and Be containing (Ni-Cr) are not effected much after
porcelain firing , they have shown less corrosion susceptibility.

 Corrosion rate of beryllium free alloys increases significantly.

.
Eur J oral Sci.2011
The effect of recasting on the cytotoxicity of Base metal alloys

Conclusion :
 Recasting significantly increased Cyto toxicity level.
 Co-Cr was more adversely effected by recasting than Ni-Cr alloys

J Prosthet Dent.2005;93(2):158-63
REQUIREMENTS OF ALLOYS FOR METAL –CERAMIC APPLICATION
 Porcelain bonding to metals: oxide formation promotes chemical bonding between
metal and porcelain.

 Co-efficient to thermal contraction :if there is differential contraction between

metal alloys and porcelain may result in cracking of porcelain.

.
Solidus temperature:
 should have high solidus temperature than sintering
temperature of porcelain to minimize creep deformation.
Porcelain discoloration:
 Occurs with silver containing alloy
 Near cervical region in PFM
 Color changes include green,yellow-green,yellow-orange,orange and brown hues
This phenomenon is known as “Greening.”
 Thermal compatibility of metal-ceramic systems:
Metal and ceramic contract at different thermal contraction coefficients

Chemical bond prevents from separating creating stresses

These stresses force each component to adjust to their respective dimensions

Transient stress Residual stress

(instaneous stress at given temperature) (stress at room temperature)

 TITANIUM:

 Bio-compatible.

 Corrosion protection ( approximately 10nm thick passivating oxide layer).

 Used for: a) All metals

b) metal ceramics

c)Implants

d) RPD frame works or partial dentures frame works.

 COMMERCIALLY PURE TITANIUM (CP Ti)

 According to ASTM, there are 4 grades of unalloyed CPTi, based on impurities.

 Excellent corrosion resistance.

 Elastic modulus is similar to Enamel and Noble alloys.

 Increased oxygen content increases flexural and fatigue strength.

GRADES OF COMMERCIALLY PURE TITANIUM :
 TITANIUM ALLOYS
 CP Ti : alpha phase (hexagonal close packed crystal structure)

Alpha stabilizers: Beta stabilizers:

(alpha +beta) molybdenum
Aluminium,
(high temp) Meta stable (low temp)
Carbon, Cobalt ,Nickel
Ti-6Al-4V
Nitrogen Copper, Niobium

Gallium Palladium, tantalum

vanadium
beta phase ( body-centered crystal structure )
 COMPARISON OF GOLD ALLOYS AND BASE METAL ALLOYS

properties base metal gold alloys

tensile strength more (1,142 mpa) less (490 mpa)

yield strength more (591 mpa) less (400 mpa)

modulus of elasticity more (207x103 mpa) less (55 x 103 mpa)

vicker’s hardness more (293 dph) less (161 dph)

density less (81.9 / cm3) more (18.39/cm3)

porcelain bond low (97.9 mpa) high (111 mpa)

 COMPARISON OF GOLD ALLOYS AND BASE METAL ALLOYS

properties base metal gold alloys

melting temperature high (1300o c) low (900o c)
casting shrinkage high (2.25%) low (1.25 – 1.65%)
heat treatment complicated simple
tarnish & corrosion chromium oxide layer noble metal
price low high
sag resistance low (< 25 m) high (225 m)
technique sensitive more less
casting investment phosphate/silicate gypsum bonded
biocompatibility good excellent
COMPARISION OF PROPERTIES OF METALS, PEEK, AND
ZIRCONIA
CONCLUSION :
According to Wataha ,alloys should be chosen

• Based on understanding of the alloy system.

• Selection of proven alloys from quality manufacturers.

• Consideration of the requirements of a given clinical situation.

With newer materials continuing to emerge ,future looks to present an even wider range of
available material properties available to the clinician.
REFERENCES:

• Anusavice, PHILLIPS’ Science of Dental Materials, First South Asia Edition

• Craig R.G., Restorative Dental Materials, 13th Edition.

• Dent clin N Am 51 (2007) 591-601.
aterial11th Edition.
 Tai et al ,Leaching of nickel, chromium, and beryllium ions from base metal alloy in an

artificial oral environment J Prosthet Dent.1992;68(4):692-697

 The effect of recasting on the cytotoxicity of base metal alloys
J Prosthet Dent.2005;93(2):158-63
 Corrosion behaviour and surface analysis of a Co-cr and two Ni-cr alloys before and after
simulated porcelain firing.Eur J oral Sci.2011.