Microstructural characterization of Ni-Cr-Mo-Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloys used in prosthetic abutments

• Main Author: Faot, Fernanda
• Publication Date: 2009
• Other Authors: Silva, Wander José da, R. Garcia, Renata Cunha Matheus, Del Bel Cury, Altair Antoninha
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Revista odonto ciência (Online)
• Download full: https://revistaseletronicas.pucrs.br/ojs/index.php/fo/article/view/5408
• topic: Ti-6Al-4V; Ni-Cr-Mo-Ti; dental alloy; microstructure; hardness; abutment; metal alloys

Purpose: Titanium alloys are commonly used for prosthetic abutments fabrication, but these alloys present high cost and difficult handling. Alternative Ni-Cr alloys with Mo and Ti combination have been proposed. This study compared the alloys Ti-6Al-4V and Ni-Cr-Ti-Mo by analyzing their surface properties such as hardness, morphology and microstructural characterization. Methods: Five discs (5 x 2 mm) of commercially Ti-6Al-4V and Ni-Cr-Ti-Mo alloys were used to evaluate Vickers hardness by hardness micro indentation test. The same specimens were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) regarding surface morphology and subjected to a metallographic analysis of the microstructure by optical microscopy. Data on surface hardness were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test (α = 0.05). Results: The Ni-Cr-Mo-Ti alloy showed significantly higher Vickers hardness (kg/mm2) values (452.2 ± 3.9) than the Ti-6Al-4V alloy (375.7 ± 15.2). The surface morphology evaluated by SEM revealed differences between the alloys. Metallographic analyses, for both alloys, showed a two-phase equilibrium microstructure, with the presence of e α + β phase for Ti-6Al-4V; and gamma (γ) primary phase and gamma-prime (γ’) as a second phase for Ni-Cr-Mo-Ti. Conclusion: It can be concluded that both alloys present the requirements to be used in prosthetic abutments.