Abstract
The age-hardening behavior and the structural changes in a commercial dental Au-Ag-Cu-Pd alloy were investigated by means of hardness test, optical and scanning electron microscopic observation, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction study. The drastic reduction in hardness by prolonged aging occurred after a rapid increase in hardness at the initial stage by the isothermal aging at $350^{\circ}C$. This softening was due to the broad precipitates formation of the lamellar structure which was composed of the f.c.t. AuCu I ordered f.c.t. phase containing Pd and the f.c.c. Ag-rich $\alpha$1 solid solution f.c.c.phase containing Au.