EVALUATION OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF TITANIUM-BASED ALLOY FOR USE IN DENTISTRY

Titanium and its alloys are promising materials in dentistry because they have good biocompatibility, corrosion resistance and physical and mechanical properties. For that reason, they have many applications as crowns, inlays, bridges, dental implants etc. Titanium can be alloyed with other metals, such as chromium and niobium, to modify its mechanical properties. So, titanium alloys are increasingly being developed with the aim of obtaining a material with excellent biocompatibility and satisfactory mechanical properties for dental applications. In this work four samples of Ti-10Cr-10Nb alloy were produced in a laboratory arc furnace under argon atmosphere in the shape of button. They were re-melted for four times in the same conditions to ensure chemical homogeneity. Casting of four alloys in the shape of plates with different thickness was obtained by standard dental procedure and vacuum-pressure technique. Their Vickers hardness (HV 2) and microhardness (HV 0.2) as well as bending strength were determined. Microstructure was observed by light microscope. Surface of alloys after 3-point bending test was analyzed by scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive spectrometer. It was found that all alloys have similar two-phase microstructure, hardness which satisfies dental requirements and high bending strengths values. From the obtained results it follows that experimental alloy has potential for further investigation for use in dentistry.