Components 

a. Fillers added to most to control shrinkage
b. Matrix

Structure of gypsum products

Components
 
a. Powder (calcium sulfate hemihydrate = CaSO4½H2O)
b. Water (for reaction with powder and dispersing powder)

CLEANING AND PICKLING ALLOYS

The surface oxidation or other contamination of dental alloys is a troublesome occurrence. The oxidation of base metals in most alloys can be kept to a minimum or avoided by using a properly adjusted method of heating the alloy and a suitable amount of flux when melting the alloy . Despite these precautions, as the hot metal enters the mold, certain alloys tend to become contaminated on the surface by combining with the hot mold gases, reacting with investment ingredients, or physically including mold particles in the metal surface. The surface of most cast, soldered, or otherwise heated metal dental appliances is cleaned by warming the structure in suitable solutions, mechanical polishing, or other treatment of the alloy to restore the normal surface condition.

Surface tarnish or oxidation can be removed by the process of pickling. Castings of noble or high-noble metal may be cleaned in this manner by warming them in a 50% sulfuric acid and water solution . . After casting, the alloy (with sprue attached) is placed into the warmed pickling solution for a few seconds. The pickling solution will reduce oxides that have formed during casting. However, pickling will not eliminate a dark color caused by carbon deposition 

The effect of the solution can be seen by comparing the submerged surfaces to those that have still not contacted the solution. the ordinary inorganic acid solutions and do not release poisonous gases on boiling (as sulfuric acid does). In either case, the casting to be cleaned is placed in a suitable porcelain beaker with the pickling solution and warmed gently, but short of the boiling point. After a few moments of heating, the alloy surface normally becomes bright as the oxides are reduced. When the heating is completed, the acid may be poured from the beaker into the original storage container and the casting is thoroughly rinsed with water. Periodically, the pickling solution should be replaced with fresh solution to avoid excessive contamination.

Precautions to be taken while pickling

With the diversity of compositions of casting alloys available today, it is prudent to follow the manufacturer's instructions for pickling precisely, as all pickling solutions may not be compatible with all alloys. Furthermore, the practice of dropping a red-hot casting into the pickling solution should beavoided. This practice may alter the phase structure of the alloy or warp thin castings, and splashing acid may be dangerous to the operator. Finally, steel or stainless steel tweezers should not be used to remove castings from the pickling solutions. The pickling solution may dissolve the tweezers and plate the component metals onto the casting. Rubber-coated or Teflon tweezers are recommended for this purpose.

COMPOSITE RESINS

Components

• Filler particles-colloidal silica, crystalline silica (quartz), or silicates of various particle sizes (containing Li, AI, Zn, Yr)
• Matrix-BIS-GMA (or UDMA) with lower molecular weight diluents (e.g., TEGDMA) that correct during polymerization
• Coupling agent- silane that chemically bonds the surfaces of the filter particles to the polymer matrix

Casting of glass or ceramic

A castable ceramic is prepared in a similar manner as metal cast preparation .
Glass is heated to 1360 degrees & then cast.
Phosphate bonded investments are used for this purpose .

Acrylic Denture Bases

Use - used to support artificial teeth

Classification
a. PMMA/MMA dough systems
b. PMMA/MMA pour resin systems

1. Components

a. Powder-PMMA polymer, peroxide initiator, and pigments
b. Liquid-MMA monomer, hydroquinone inhibitor, and cross-linking agents

2. Reaction
a. Heat (or chemicals) is used as an accelerator to decompose peroxide into free radicals
b. Free radicals initiate polymerization of MMA into PMMA
c. New PMMA is formed as a matrix around residual PMMA powder particles
d. Linear shrinkage is 5% to 7% of monomer on polymerization

3. Manipulation
a. P/L mixed to form dough or fluid resin to fill mold
b. Mold heated to start and control reaction