Dr.

Huda ElGendi
Lecturer of Dental Biomaterials ,Sinai University

sinaiuniversity.net
Comparison between Base Metal Alloys and Gold
Alloys(Type III and Type IV)
Property/ Clinical Base Metals Gold Alloys
Significance Type III & IV
Co-Cr Ni-Cr Ti & Ti alloys

I) Bio-compatibility Excellent due to the passive layer in the Excellent : nobility of the
base metal alloys. gold alloys
However Nickel is allergic
Beryllium vapor is carcinogenic to the
technician
Resistance to Excellent :Due to the presence of passive Excellent
tarnish and layer Due to presence of
corrosion CrO2 in CoCr & NiCr alloys. noble metals
TiO ,in Cp Ti and Ti alloys
Ti will repassivate in nanoseconds, if the
passive layer is scratched
Property/ Clinical Base Metals Gold Alloys
Significance Type III & IV
Co-Cr Ni-Cr Ti & Ti alloys

II) Physical
Properties:
Yellow :
a) Color Lustrous silvery white if properly finished Gold & Cu
and polished White:
if Pd > 5 %

b) Density 8gm/cm3 4.5 gm/cm3 15 – 16 gm/cm3

↑Density affects the castability of the alloy :casting more easily

Disadv: Poor retention of upper denture.
Property/ Clinical Base Metals Gold Alloys
Significance Type III & IV
Co-Cr Ni-Cr Ti & Ti alloys

c) Coefficient of
thermal expansion 14 10 6 / C  8 10 6 / C  14.8 10 6 / C
and contraction
It affects:
- the selection of investment
- compatibility with porcelain. It should contract slightly
more than porcelain to produce compressive bonding.

d) Casting shrinkage ≈ 2.3 % ≈ 1.6 %

It affects the selection of the type of investment which will
expand to compensate for it.
 Property/ Clinical Base Metals Gold Alloys
Significance Co-Cr Ni-Cr Ti & Ti alloys Type III & IV

e) Fusion 1300ºC-1500ºC CpTi: 1700ºC 870ºC- 1050ºC

temperature (↓ from type III to IV)
Ti alloy : 1300ºC-
1500ºC

Affects 1) Inv. Type. 2) Melting method. 3) Sag resist. 4) solder alloy

f) sag resistance High sag resistance ( ↑ M.T ) Low sag resistance

Denotes the high temperature creep during firing of porcelain

NB:
• Cp Ti is similar in mechanical properties to gold alloys typeIII&IV.
• While Ti alloys are similar in mechanical properties toCo/Cr &Ni/Cr
base metal alloys.
Property/ Clinical Base Metals Gold Alloys
Significance Co-Cr Ni-Cr Type III & IV

III) Mechanical
properties
a) Modulus of
elasticity  250 10200
3 x 10³ Mpa
 105 103 MPa
They are used in thin section. Not changed by heat ttt
Co-Cr are rigid So used In P.D framework

It affects the stress distribution on the supporting tissue

It also affects the thickness of the restoration, & resistance to def.

b) Yield strength 500 - 600 MPa Mpa

 300 500

c) Ultimate tensile ≈ 800 MPa ≈ 700 MPa

st.
Property/Clinical Base Metals Gold Alloys
Significance Co-Cr Ni-Cr Type III & IV

d) % Elongation 1 - 2% 10% 8 – 20%

N.B Increasing Nickel contents increases Gold alloys are more
ductility. tough (combined high
Ni-Cr used in crown and bridge work as ultimate tensile st. &
nickel increased the ductility elongation)

Denotes the Burnishability.

e) Hardness (VHN) 200 - 350 VHN ≈ 250 VHN
difficult in finishing and polishing easy in finishing and
but they retain surface finish for longer polishing but they retain
time surface finish for shorter
time
Property Base Metals Gold Alloys
Co-Cr Ni-Cr Type III & IV

VI. Casting Base metal alloys are technique sensitive i.e. any change in the Generally gold alloys
a) Casting casting procedures will lead to are not technique
sensitivity Change in microstructure →Change in their properties sensitive.
So Casting should be done in well controlled vacuum, ↑ density
otherwise ↓ M.T
*↑ N: if > 0.1 % N brittle casting.
*↑ C : Carbides formation embittermenss.
*↑ O2 : Oxidation

Ti & Ti alloys
Titanium is very reactive at high temp.,if Ti pick up more
oxygen during casting, Ti surface will have thick, oxygen
enriched and hard surface layer, which decreases its strength
and ductility.
Ti v. difficult in casting: v. ↓ Density, v. ↑ M.T
Property/ Clinical Base Metals Gold Alloys
Significance Co-Cr Ni-Cr Ti & Ti alloys Type III & IV

b) Investment Carbon free phosphate bonded Gypsum bonded

investment mixed with special liquid or investment or phosphate
silicate bonded investment. bonded investment mixed
with water

c) Casting ring Rubber ring [removed after investing] Metallic ring with liner to
support the investment
during casting
Property/ Clinical Base Metals Gold Alloys
Significance Co-Cr Ni-Cr Ti & Ti alloys Type III & IV

d) Melting 1-Oxygen acetylene flame Gas air torch [middle

method It should be properly adjusted blue zone]
↑O2: oxidation
↑acetylene : carbide precipitation
brittleness
2- Electric melting induction.

* Ti: Electric melting induction.

e) Crucible Quartz Graphite

Because if carbon crucible is used, the
alloy will pick up carbon
Property/ Clinical Base Metals Gold Alloys
Significance Co-Cr Ni-Cr Ti & Ti alloys Type III & IV

f) Casting machine *Co/Cr & Ni/Cr: Centrifugal casting Air pressure casting
machine to overcome the problem of low machine
density and incomplete filling of the mold.
*Cp Ti + Ti alloys: Special designed casting
machine using centrifugal and air pressure
casting force(very low density) under well
controlled vacuum.

g) Cooling Bench cooling Quenching (softening

heat treatment)
Property/ Clinical Base Metals Gold Alloys
Significance Co-Cr Ni-Cr Ti & Ti alloys Type III & IV

h) Finishing and *Sand blasting: Mechanical smoothness of Acid Pickling:

polishing the casting to remove adherent inv. Place the gold casting in
*Electrolytic polishing(opposite of warm HCL to remove
electroplating): The restoration is placed as surface oxides
anode where rough surface is depleted Polishing is then done by
expressing smooth shiny surface. rubber cups and paste.
No Pickling to avoid acid attack to the
passive layer.

i) Recasting Can not be recast due to its technique Can be recast

sensitivity .
Property/ Clinical Base Metals Gold Alloys
Significance Co-Cr Ni-Cr Type III & IV

Microstructure Large grains with cored Fine equiaxed grains

dendritic structure with inter-
granular and inter-dendritic
precipitated carbides

Ti & Ti alloys

Lamellar structure: Coarse plate

like α grains in β matrix
Property/ Clinical Base Metals Gold Alloys
Significance Co-Cr Ni-Cr Type III & IV

Heat Treatment Co/Cr : No heat ttt Softening and

Ni Cr: Hardening
-Heating 15 minutes at 1500C then quenching ↑ heat ttt
increase the workability.
-Subsequent heating (15 minutes at 1005C then
quenching) ↑ toughness

Ti & Ti alloys
Heating slightly above the β transition temperature
(1000ºC – 1500ºC) and subsequent aging at
temperature (800ºC – 900ºC). This will improve the
mechanical properties.
 N.B.:
 CoCr alloys are ideal for the construction of denture frameworks
(alternative to type IV gold alloys).
-↑modulus of elasticity (250 GPa) → denture and the clasp arms can be
made thinner in cross-section maintaining adequate rigidity.
-density of about half that of gold alloys →lighter dentures & more
comfort of the patient.
 NiCr alloys are best used in crown and bridge work (alternative to type III
gold alloys).
-Ni increased the ductility of the alloy→ ↑ workability of the alloy &
better burnishability
Alternative methods for shaping titanium:
• By machine milling and spark erosion from a work piece.
 THANK YOU

For any questions feel free

to contact me by mail
Hoda.elgendy@su.edu.eg

Dr. Huda ElGendi

Lecturer of Dental Biomaterials ,Sinai University