ISSN 0975-8437

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DENTAL CLINICS 2011:3(1):14-17

RESEARCH PAPER

A Comparative evaluation of fatigue behavior of removable partial denture alloys with and without heat treatment
Murali Ramamoorthi, Abdul Aziz Al Khuraif

Abstract Aims: To compare the fatigue behavior of removable partial denture alloys with and without heat treatment. Material and Methods: A total of 35 specimens were casted and divided into 7 groups. The groups studied were low gold alloy, medium gold alloy, palladium alloy and cobalt chromium alloy group. One way deflection fatigue test was used to evaluate fatigue of alloys. The number of cycles required to fracture each specimen was recorded and subjected to statistical analysis. Results: More number of cycles required to fracture the heat treated noble alloys. The base metal alloy showed more fatigue resistance than low gold alloy but less than medium gold alloy and palladium alloy. Conclusion: Age hardening increases the fatigue resistance of noble alloys. Clinical Implications: The mechanical property of cast restorations can be modified by heat treatment of the alloys, and can improve the longevity of the restoration. Key Words: Deflection Fatigue Test;Noble Alloys;Age Hardening;Heat Treatment Received on: 25/08/10 Accepted on: 06/09/2010 Introduction Removable partial denture retentive clasp arms must be capable of flexing and returning to original form and should satisfactorily retain prosthesis. In addition, claps should not unduly stress abutment teeth or be permanently distorted during service. In this respect gold alloys have been favored as claps compared with base metal alloys because of high yield strength and low moduli of elasticity. Noble alloys are capable of undergoing heat treatments to change their mechanical and physical properties. The heat treatments for gold alloys are generally classified into solution treatment and age hardening treatment. Age hardening is caused by several mechanisms such as phase transformation, precipitation and special decomposition of the alloy system. The strain that is introduced by the change in crystal structure during phase transformation results in a significant increase in hardness, strength and reduction in ductility.(1) Clasps undergo permanent deformation and fatigue fracture under repeated flexures caused by denture insertion, removal and mastication. Permanent deformation and fatigue fracture are
Alloys Yellow special Pontor MPF Ceradelta Metalloy CC Manufacturer Metallor Switzerland Metallor Switzerland Metallor Switzerland Metallor Switzerland dental, dental, dental, dental,

caused by the stress created in the clasp. The purpose of this in-vitro study was to compare the fatigue behavior of noble alloys with and without age hardening and base metal alloy. Materials and Methods The basic test specimen used was the prefabricated clasp wax pattern of dimension 15mm length and 10mm outer diameter similar to the studies done by Vallitu and Kokkonen.(2) The wax patterns were invested and casted using type IV noble alloys (Yellow Special, Pontor MPF, Ceradelta) and a cobalt chromium base metal alloy (metalloy cc) with a phosphate bonded investment. A total of five specimens for each alloy group were casted. The composition and material properties of the alloys used were shown in table-1and table-2. The casting procedures were determined following the manufacturers instructions for the alloys and investments. Heat treatment of the alloys was done based on manufacturer suggestions. Recovered castings were cleaned with airborne particle abrasion using 80 micron aluminium oxide particles.
Investment Phosphate investment Phosphate investment Phosphate investment Phosphate investment

Composition Au-41% Ag-44.9% Pd-1.7% Cu-11% <1% -Pt,Ru,Sn,Zn Au-72% Ag-13.7% Pt-3.6% Cu-9.8% <1%- Zn,Ir Pd-57.5% Ag-32% In-6% Sn-2% Ga-1.5% Zn-1% Co-61.5% Cr-27.5% W-8.6% Si-1.3% <1%- Mn,N,Nb Table -1 Alloys studied

bonded bonded bonded bonded

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DENTAL CLINICS 2011:3(1):14-17

Alloys

Vicker hardness [hvs]

Yellow special Pontor MPF Ceradelta

160 220 270

Modulus of elasticity [Mpa] 80,000 1,00,000 122,000

Metalloy 290 2,00,000 CC Table-2 Physical properties of alloys studied

The dimensions of the specimens were measured by a digital micrometer (with an accuracy of 0.001mm) supplemented with a profile projector (Model 6c; Nikon Corp, Tokyo, Japan). Specimens with defects (macropores and metal protrusions) were rejected and repeated. Incomplete and deformed castings were also discarded. No polishing procedures were performed to ensure uniformity. Only nodules were carefully removed under magnification. Fatigue test: A one way constant deflection fatigue test was used with the pneumatic testing machine used by the previous studies.(2) The specimens were deflected with a 0.6 mm one way constant amplitude force at intervals of 300 milliseconds. The maximum deflection force, time and number of loading cycles were registered. The loading frequency used in this test was 3.3 Hz; the loading waveform was square and R-5% (load ratio-ratio of minimum and maximum fatigue force). The test was carried out until fracture of the specimen. The number of loading cycles required to fracture each specimen was recorded automatically. Results The results were tabulated from table-3. The mean values were subjected to statistical analysis at 95% confidence level.
Alloy groups Yellow special[A1] Yellow special age hardened [B1] Pontor MPF[C1] 66480 Pontor MPF age hardened[D1] 66720 Ceradelta [E1] 67440 Ceradelta Age Hardened [F1] 71520 Metalloy CC [G1] 44640 Table-3 Mean Number of cycles required to Fracture special alloy specimens Mean Number of Cycles 38640 52840

The number of cycles required for the yellow special alloy without heat treatment was 38640 cycles, whereas it was 52840 after heat treatment. Around 66480 cycles required for

Pontor MPF without heat treatment and 66720 cycles with heat treatment, whereas it is 67440 cycles, and 71520 cycles for Ceradelta without and with heat treatment respectively. Metalloy CC showed the least cycles comparable with yellow special without heat treatment. There was a statistical difference existed between metalloy CC and Ceradelta, age hardened Ceradelta, Pontor MPF, age hardened Pontor MPF, and age hardened yellow special and yellow special and age hardened yellow special. Discussion Material failures were divided to the sudden fracture and fatigue fracture. Sudden fracture occurs when a construction was loaded until it fractures with one bend. A fracture can also occur even if the stress was considerably lower than that required for the sudden fracture. Repeated stress cycles cause microscopic cracks mainly in the tension side of the construction and after a period of time a number of cracks had increased to such of size that a sudden fracture can occur even with a low stress level. Fatigue strength of the material was defined as the highest stress that the material can withstand. Based on the loads required to deflection noble alloys would be clinically advantageous due to low rigidity when compared to base metal alloys which was expected to have a minimum possibility of traumatic overloading to the abutment tooth during insertion and removal. It was previously claimed that the cobalt chromium alloy could withstand a stress slightly above its proportional limit without fracture over infinitely many cycles.(3) This was not seen in this study. Cobalt chromium showed fracture at average 44640 cycles which was less than palladium and higher than gold alloys. The testing method used in this study was a deflection of 0.6 mm, obviously; the magnitude of deflection was greater than the retention undercut of the tooth used clinically. It has been suggested that for an RPD with wrought-wire clasps, an undercut of 0.25 mm provides adequate retention.(4) Later, after testing wrought metal wire clasps, Ikebe et al(5) reported undercuts greater than 0.5 mm are too large for base metal wires. Because of relatively high modulus of elasticity, the cobalt-chromium alloy clasp should be used in retentive undercuts of less than 0.5 mm.(6) The results revealed that a fatigue fracture occurred in the cobaltchromium specimen after approximately 44,640 loading cycles, in the low gold alloy specimen after 38640 loading cycles, in the medium gold alloy specimen after 66720 loading cycles, and

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in the palladium alloy specimen after 71520 loading cycles. It can be roughly estimated that the clasp of the RPD bends 10 times per day from insertion and removal of the RPD, which means that the clasp is affected by 3600 deflections per year.(7-9) Furthermore mastication affects bending of the clasps and should also be considered. If no wearing of the retentive undercuts of the tooth is seen, metal fatigue may fracture the yellow special alloy after 11 years, age hardened yellow special alloy 14.5 years, Pontor MPF alloy after 18.5 years, and ceradelta after 20 years and metalloy CC after 12.4 years. Age hardened yellow special shows better fatigue resistance than cobalt chromium alloy. Age hardening showed a drastic change in the properties of low gold alloy, whereas it has slight influence in the other two noble alloys studied. This hypothesis, however, requires further verification. An important factor that affects the strength of an alloy is its grain structure. Bridgeport (3)examined the grain size of cobalt-chromium alloy at different locations on the RPD and found that the grain count decreased continuously from the clasp tip towards the sprue. The grain count in a clasp cross-section has been reported to be as low as two or three. On the other hand, in a crosssection of a gold alloy clasp there can be as many as 100 grains.(8) Fatigue fracture of material is influenced by many factors including the quality of surface finish, metallographic microstructure and presence of internal defects. Although fatigue fracture can occur in a highly polished specimen, the crack initiation process is considerably facilitated by surface roughness and irregularities. Surface irregularities like coldshuts and scratches acts as stress raisers and most often become the sites of fatigue crack initiation.(9) In this study specimens were not polished. Although the quality of surface finish might have influenced the fatigue resistance of noble alloys, such conditions apparently did not affect the base alloy specimen. Although no mechanical properties are directly related to the fatigue endurance of the materials, the effects of elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength have been postulated. Studies by different authors have shown that fractures in high stress cantilevered portion of the fixed partial denture decreased when materials with higher modulus and tensile strength were used.(2) The longevity of cast prosthesis is an important dental concern for patient as well as dentist. Based on the loads required to deflection, noble alloys would be

clinically advantageous due to low rigidity when compared to base metal alloys which is expected to have a minimum possibility of traumatic overloading to the abutment tooth during insertion and removal. It was previously claimed that the cobalt chromium alloy could withstand a stress slightly above its proportional limit without fracture over infinitely many cycles. In the present study noble alloys shows better longevity than base metal alloy. Further investigations should be conducted to determine whether inherent casting defects between alloys contribute to their fatigue behavior. Specimens were subjected only to vertical directed forces, clinically the forces are multidirectional. Hence the influence of these factors should be considered in future experiments before a more accurate evaluation can be made. Finally although a sample size (N=5) was used in the current study, significant differences were found between the different groups, indicating sufficiently large effect size. Conclusion In conclusion the noble alloys showed better longevity than base metal alloy. Further investigations should be conducted to determine whether inherent casting defects between alloys contribute to their fatigue behavior. Within the limitations of the study, a) age hardened yellow special alloy shows better fatigue resistance than cobalt chromium alloy and yellow special alloy without heat treatment, and the one way deflection fatigue test is a valuable tool to study the fatigue behavior.
Affiliation of Authors: 1. Dr. Murali Ramamoorthi, M.D.S., Reader, Dept. of Prosthodontics, Sinhgad Dental College & Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India, 2. Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Khuraif, Chairman, Dept. of Oral Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, K.S.A. Acknowledgement: This Study was funded by King Saud University, Riyadh. References 1. Bates J. Partial denture design: modern concepts. Design:[II] retention, safety and occlusal correction. Dental Update1986;13(7):322-8. 2. Vallittu PK, Kokkonen M. Deflection fatigue of cobalt-chromium, titanium, and gold alloy cast denture clasp. The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry 1995; 74(4):412-9. 3. Bridgeport DA, Brantley WA, Herman PF. Cobalt Chromium and Nickel Chromium Alloys for Removable Prosthodontics, Part 1: Mechanical Properties. Journal of Prosthodontics 1993; 2(3):144-50. 4. Brudvik JS, Morris HF. Stress-relaxation testing. Part III: Influence of wire alloys, gauges, and

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5.

6.

7.

lengths on clasp behavior. The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry1981;46(4):374-9. Ikebe K, Nokubi T, Kibi M, Ono T, Okuno Y. Influence of dimensional factors and heat treatment on permanent deformation of wrought wire clasps. The Journal of Osaka University Dental School1992;32:75-83. Ghani F, Mahood M. A laboratory examination of the behaviour of cast cobalt-chromium clasps. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation1990;17(3):229-37. VandenBrink JP, Wolfaardt JF, Faulkner MG. A comparison of various removable partial denture clasp materials and fabrication procedure for placing clasps on canine and premolar teeth. The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry1993;70(2):180-8.

8.

Yli-Urpo A, Lappalainen R, Huuskonen O. Frequency of damage to and need for repairs of removable dentures. Proceedings of the Finnish Dental Society Suomen Hammaslkriseuran toimituksia1985;81(3):151. 9. Morris H, Farah J, Craig R, Hood J. Stress distribution within circumferential clasp arms. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation1976;3(4):387-94. Address for Correspondence Dr. Murali Ramamoorthi,M.D.S., Reader, Dept. of Prosthodontics Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital Pune, Maharashtra, India. Email: muralee.dr@gmail.com

Source of Support: King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA

Conflict of Interest: None Declared

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