The effect of casting machine and investment on the castability of titanium alloy

Chung, Da Woon; Yang, Hong So

Abstract

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: There has been a great interest in the use of titanium for fixed and removable prostheses in recent because of its excellent biocompatibility. However, the melting temperature and chemical reactivity of titanium necessities casting system different from those used in conventional casting. The current titanium casting systems are based on an electric-arc design for melting the metal in an argon atmosphere and its exclusive investment. Despite the new development in Ti casting system, inadequate mold filling and internal porosity are frequently observed casting defects. PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to compare the castibility and reaction layer of the casting titanium under the two casting machines and their investment condition. MATERIAL AND METHOD: coping and machine-milled titanium coping according to the casting methods and the marginal configurations. The total 28 specimens were used, and these are divided into 4 groups according to 2 casting machines and 2 investments. The castings were analyzed using x-ray microanalysis and microhardness testing. The reaction layer between margin of titanium casting and the investments was observed and analyzed with scanning electron microscope. RESULT: 1. Castabiliy of casting titanium specimen was best in the group of centrifugal casting machine and Selevest CB(R) and good that of Selevest CB and pressure differential casting machine, Rematitan plus and centrifugal casting machine, Rematitan plus and pressure differential casting machine in order. 2. There was no significanct correlation in titanium castability in respect of casting machine. However ANOVA indicated that Selevest CB(R) groups had significantly better castability than Rematitan plus(R) groups.(p<0.05) 3. There was a significant microhardness difference between cetrifugal casting machine groups and pressure differential groups.(p<0.05) Titanium castings in centifugal groups had significantly harder than those in pressure differential groups. 4. The addition of zirconia decreased interfacial reactivity.
CONCLUSION
above result revealed that of the castability of titanium casting specimens had little correlation in casting machines and was better in magnesia-based investment contained ZrO2 groups. However in order to practice casting titanium in clininic, its castability should be improved, also there should be more research on factor of castability so that long-span prothesis and removable partial denture metla frame may be casted completly.