METALLURGICAL TERMS

a. Cold Working. This is the process of changing the shape of a metal by rolling, pounding, bending, or twisting at normal room temperature.

b. Strain Hardening. This occurs when a metal becomes stiffer and harder because of continued or repeated application of a load or force. At this point, no further slippage of the atoms of the metal can occur without fracture.

c. Heat Softening Treatment (Annealing). This treatment is necessary in order to continue manipulating a metal after strain hardening to prevent it from fracturing. The process of annealing consists of heating the metal to the proper temperature (as indicated by the manufacturer's instructions) and cooling it rapidly by immersing in cold water. Annealing relieves stresses and strains caused by cold working and restores slipped atoms within the metal to their regular arrangement.

d. Heat Hardening Treatment (Tempering). This treatment is necessary to restore to metals properties that are decreased by annealing and cold working. Metals to be heat hardened should first be heat softened (annealed) so that all strain hardening is relieved and the hardening process can be properly controlled. Heat hardening is accomplished in dental gold alloy by heating to 840^o Fahrenheit, allowing it to cool slowly over a 15-minute period to 480^o Fahrenheit, and then immersing it in water.

Stages of manipulation

Definitions of intervals

• Mixing interval-length of time of the mixing stage.
• Working interval-length of time of the working stage
•  Setting interval-length of time of the setting stage

Definitions of times

• Mixing time-the elapsed time from the onset to the completion of mixing
• Working time-the elapsed time from the onset of mixing until the onset of the initial setting time
• Initial setting time-time at which sufficient reaction has occurred  to cause the materials to be resistant to  further manipulation
• Final setting time-time at which the material practically is set as defined by its resistance to indentation

[All water-based materials lose their gloss at the time of setting]

Investment Techniques 

Single step investing technique:
The investing procedure is carried out in one step either by brush technique or by vacuum technique.

a). Brush technique:
The accurate water-powder ratio is mixed under vacuum. A brush is then used to paint the wax pattern with mix then the casting ring is applied over the crucible former and the ring is filled under vibration until it is completely filled.

b). vacuum technique:
• The mix in first hand spatulated, and then with the crucible former and pattern is place, then ring is attached to the mixing bowl.
• The vacuum hose is then attached to the assembly. The bowel is inverted and the ring is filled under vacuum and vibration

Two-step investing technique:

The investing procedure is carried out in two steps:

• First, the wax pattern is painted with a thick mix andis left till complete setting, the set investment block(first cost) is immersed in water for about tenminutes . the casting ring is then applied over the crucible former and filled with the properly mixedinvestment (second coat) till the ring is completely filled and the mix is left to set.The two-step investing technique is recommendedwhenever greater amount of expansion is required. Thistechnique also minimizes the distortion of the waxpattern and provides castings with smoother surfaces.

• The investment is allowed to set for the recommendedtime (usually one-hour) then the crucible former is removed. If a metal sprue former is used, it is removedby heating over a flame to loosen it from the wax pattern. Any loose particles of investment should beblown off with compressed air should be placed in a humidor if stored overnight.
 

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 .

Impression Material

Gypsum Products

Mercury hygiene

• Do not contact mercury with skin
• Clean up spills to minimize mercury vaporization
• Store mercury or precapsulated products in tight containers
• Only triturate amalgam components-in tightly- sealed capsules
• Use amalgam with covers
• Store spent amalgam under water or fixer in a tightly sealed jar
• Use high vacuum suction during amalgam alloy placement, setting, or removal when mercury may be vaporized
• Polishing amalgams generally causes localized melting of silver-mercury phase with release of mercury vapor, so water cooling and evacuation must be used