• Korean Journal of Dental Materials
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.197-206
• /
• 2017

The hardening effect by ice-quenching after oxidation of a Pd-Ag-Sn-Au metal-ceramic alloy during porcelain firing simulation was investigated by means of hardness test, field emission scanning electron microscopic observations, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The hardness decreased by ice-quenching after oxidation, which was induced by the homogenization of the ice-quenched specimen. The decreased hardness by ice-quenching after oxidation was recovered from the wash stage which was the first stage of the remaining firing process for bonding porcelain. After wash stage, the hardness of the ice-quenched specimens decreased during the subsequent porcelain firing process. But the final hardness of the ice-quenched specimens after oxidation was higher than that of the specimens cooled at stage 0 after oxidation. The increase in hardness of the specimens during the first firing process was caused by the lattice strains generated at the interface between the face-centered cubic Pd-Ag-rich matrix and the face-centered tetragonal Pd3(Sn, Ga, In) precipitate. The decrease in hardness of the specimens during the remaining firing process was caused by the microstructural coarsening.

• Korean Journal of Dental Materials
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.343-349
• /
• 2016

This experiment was carried out to examine whether the post-firing heat treatment is effective in increasing the hardness of metal-ceramic alloy of the Pd-Au-Ag-Sn system. Precipitation hardening by holding at $600^{\circ}C$ after simulated complete porcelain firing in a metal-ceramic alloy of the Pd-Au-Ag-Sn system was examined by observing the change in hardness, crystal structure, and microstructure using a hardness test, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The hardness of the alloy increased apparently by holding the specimen at $600^{\circ}C$ for 30 min after simulated complete porcelain firing. The formation of fine grain interior precipitates during holding at $600^{\circ}C$ caused the formation of lattice strain in the grain interior, resulting in apparent hardening. The faster cooling rate (stage 0) during simulated complete porcelain firing resulted in more effective precipitation hardening during holding at $600^{\circ}C$. From the above results, an appropriate post-firing heat treatment, such as holding at $600^{\circ}C$ for 30 min after complete porcelain firing may increase the durability of metal-ceramic prostheses composed of Pd-Au-Ag-Sn alloy.

• Korean Journal of Dental Materials
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.95-106
• /
• 2015

Hardening mechanism associated with post-firing heat treatment of softening heat treated and then firing simulated Pd-Ag-Au alloy for bonding porcelain was examined by observing the change in hardness, crystal structure and microstructure. By post-firing heat treatment of as-cast, solution treated and pre-firing heat treated specimens at $650^{\circ}C$ after casting, the hardness value increased within 10 minutes. Then, hardness consistently increased until 30 minutes, and gap of hardness value among the specimens was reduced. The increase in hardness after post-firing heat treatment was caused by grain interior precipitation in the matrix. The softening heat treatment did not affect the increase in hardness by post-firing heat treatment. The precipitated phase from the parent Pd-Ag-Au-rich ${\alpha}$ phase with face-centered cubic structure by post-firing heat treatment was $Pd_3$(Sn, In) phase with face-centered tetragonal structure, which has lattice parameters of $a_{200}=4.0907{\AA}$, $c_{002}=3.745{\AA}$. From above results, appropriate post-firing heat treatment in order to support the hardness of Pd-Ag-Au metal substructure was expected to bring positive effects to durability of the prosthesis.