LOW-NOBLE-METAL-CONTENT DUPLEX DENTAL ALLOYS

THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE A SUPERIOR, LOW-NOBLE-METAL-CONTENT ALLOY SYSTEM HAVING METAL/CERAMICS COMPATIBILITY AND BIOCOMPATIBILITY AT A LOWERCOST THAN THE PRESENT HIGH-NOBLE ALLOYS. THE COMBINATION OFTHE PERFORMANCE AND COST FACTORS OF THIS ALLOY SYSTEM WILL ALLOW IT TO REPLACE NOBLE METAL AND BASE METAL ALLOYS FOR DENTAL RESTORATION. THE AIM OF THE PHASE I PROJECT IS TO EXPLORE THE DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF DUPLEX ALLOYS ON CROWNS USING RAPID SOLIDIFICATION AND CASTING TECHNOLOGY. CONSEQUENTLY, MATERIALS WILL BE CHARACTERIZED AND TESTED FOR DEMONSTRATIONOF METAL/PORCELAIN COMPATIBILITY, CORROSION RESISTANCE, AND FIT ACCURACY. THE IMPROVED-PERFORMANCE DUPLEX ALLOYS WOULD BE SYNTHESIZED USING CURRENT WELL-KNOWN DENTAL MATERIALS, SUGGESTING THAT THERE COULD BE RAPID ACCEPTANCE OF THESE DUPLEX ALLOYS BY THE DENTISTRY COMMUNITY. THESE MATERIALS OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPLACE BASE METAL ALLOYS, WHICH HAVE TOXICITY PROBLEMS, WITH A MATERIAL HAVING THE DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH-NOBLE ALLOYS AT REDUCED COST.