A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF FOUR LOW-GOLD-CONTENT DENTAL CASTING ALLOYS MANUFACTURED IN KOREA

한국산(韓國産) 치과주조용(齒科鑄造用) 저금함유합금(低金含有合金)의 조성(組成) 및 기계적(機械的) 성질(性質)에 관(關)한 비교연구(比較硏究)

This study was conducted to determine the chemical composition and the mechanical properties of four commercially available low gold-based crown and bridge alloy produced in Korea. Four dental casting gold-silver-palladium alloys, i.e., A, B, C and D (code of alloys) were selected for the evaluation of chemical composition, ultimate tensile strength, elongation. values and Vickers hardness. The chemical composition of test specimens was analyzed by both emission spectrography and wet gravitation method with a 1.5gm of low gold ingot. The tensile properties and Vickers hardness was determined with cast specimens treated in following three conditions; as-cast, softening heat treatment and hardening heat treatment. The tensile testing bars were cast in accordance with the model designed by Gettleman and Harrison (1969) which was modified from the A. D. A. Specification No. 14 for dental chromium-cobalt casting alloy. Nine tensile test specimens were made from a split silicone mold for each of the test alloys to the size of 2.5mm in diameter and a gauge length of 10mm. All four alloys were handled in accordance with conventional methods used in Type III gold alloys. Ultimate tensile strength and elongation were measured on an Instron Universal Tensile Testing Machine (Model 1125, Japan) operated at a crosshead rate of 0.1cm/min. Elongation values were measured using Digital Measuring Microscope (MS-152, FUSOH, Japan). Vickers hardness was determined with a Vickers Hardness Tester (Model VKH-l, Japan) at a 1.0kg load on a mounted tensile test specimen. The following results were obtained from this study; 1. All tested alloys were composed of Au, Ag, Pd, Cu, Zn and Fe in common. The composition rate of gold for all four alloys was found in the range of $42{\sim}47$ weight % as shown below. Alloy A; Au 45%, Ag 40.2%, Pd 5.76%, others 9.04%. Alloy B; Au 47.1%, Ag 29.03%, Pd 6.98%, others 16.92%. Alloy C; Au 45%, .Ag 26.9%, Pd 6.83%, others 21.07%. Alloy D; Au 41.8%, Ag 34.4%, Pd 6.95%, others 16.85%. 3. The ultimate tensile strength of the four alloys was in the range of $31{\sim}82kg/mm^2$. The test results were shown in the below order from the highest value; As-cast condition; D, B, C, A. Softening heat treament; B, C, D, A. Hardening heat treatment; D, B, C, A. 4. The test :results of the elongation rate for each alloy were in the range of $0.5{\sim}18%$. The test results were shown in the below order from the highest value; As-cast condition; A, D, B, C. Softening heat treatment; A, C, D, B. Hardening heat treatment; C, D, B, A. 5. Vickers hardness for each of the four alloys was in the range of $120{\sim}230$. The test results were shown in the below order from the highest value; As-cast condition; C, B, D, A Softening heat treatment; D, B, C, A. Hardening heat treatment; D, A, C, B. 6. There were no differences in the physical properties between as-cast condition and softening heat treatment.