Investment Materials

Objectives


Students can select the type of investments that is compatible with the type of alloys used. Students know why/how something has gone wrong when they work with the investment. (and hopefullyknow how to correct it!)

Metal Casting


Lost wax technique (Taggart, 1907)

A crucible former B sprue C wax pattern D investment material E ring liner G thickness of investment at the top

Metal Casting
Wax pattern shrinkage Metal shrinkage (~ 1.5-2%) Wax pattern expansion Investment expansion
Setting Hygroscopic Thermal

Investment needs to expand 1.5 to 2 % before the casting is made to compensate for metal expansion during melting.

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Ideal Investment


  

Expansion: to compensate the shrinkage of metal Should not decompose at high temperature Strength at various temperatures Porous (to allow the escape of gases) Consistent casting temperatures
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Ideal Investment (cont.)

   

Easy to manipulate Smooth castings Easy to break out Inexpensive

Composition


Refractory

Heat resistant silica based materials Thermal expansion Gypsum, Phosphate compound, Silica compound To hold refractory material particles NaCl, boric acid, potassium sulfate, graphite, copper,..etc. reducing agent, accel/retard, increase expansion

Binder

Modifiers

Types of Investment
(classified by binder)


 

Calcium sulfate-bonded or Gypsumbonded Phosphate-bonded Silica-bonded

Gypsum-bonded investment

Composition


Binder: E-hemihydrate form of gypsum (25-45%)

SiO2
Em F
1.5% 1.2%

+H2O CaSO4.2H2O Shringkage when heated Not to be heated above 700oC decomposition Quartz, Cristobalite The density decreases as the E form changes to the F form when heated, with a resulting increase in volume increase in the linear expansion. coloring agent, reduction agents e.g. carbon, Cu

Refractory: Silica (SiO2)

Em F

Modifiers:

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ADA Specification No.2



For gypsum-bonded casting investments (suitable for casting gold alloys)

Type I: For casting inlay-crown Type II: For casting complete and partial
denture

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Expansion


Setting Expansion

Normal setting expansion Hygroscopic setting expansion



Thermal Expansion

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Setting Expansion (normal vs. hygroscopic)

 

Stage I: initial mix Stage II: crystals of dihydrate are formed

Lt: water around the particles is reduced by the hydration and the particles are drawn more closely together by the surface tension action of the water Rt: hydrated water is replaced Lt: water is decreased, particles are drawn together Rt: water is replaced, crystals grow freely

Stage III: crystals grow

Stage IV and V

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Normal Setting Expansion (0.3-0.4%)




Occurs from CaSO4.1/2 H2O CaSO4.2H2O

A mixture of silica and gypsum hemihydrate results in setting expansion greater than that of the gypsum alone.

The silica particles probably interfere with the intermeshing and interlocking of the crystals as they form. The thrust of the crystals is outward during growth, and they increase expansion.

Can be regulated by retarders and accelerators.

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The effectiveness of the setting expansion in enlarging the mold containing the wax pattern may be related to the thermal expansion of the pattern caused by the heat of reaction that occurs coincidentally with the setting of the investment. The setting expansion is thus effective only to the extent that the exothermic heat is transmitted to the pattern. Manipulative conditions that increase the exothermic heat increase the effective setting expansion.

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As the investment sets, it eventually gains sufficient strength to produce a dimensional change in the wax pattern as setting expansion occurs. The softer wax is more easily moved by the expanding investment.
select appropriate material for a pattern

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Hygroscopic Setting Expansion



Occurs when the gypsum product is allowed to set under or in contact with water Can be obtained from

Hygroscopic setting expansion

Water immersion technique Water added Wet ring liner

Greater magnitude than the normal setting expansion (> 6 times)

Normal setting expansion

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Factors to Control Normal and Hygroscopic Setting Expansion



Composition

Proportional to the SiO2 content The finer the particle size of the SiO2, the greater the hygroscopic expansion. Higher W:P less expansion decrease expansion

  

Water:Powder Ratio Spatulation

Insufficient spatulation Older investment

Shelf life of the investment

lower expansion
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Time of Immersion

Delayed immersion

decrease expansion

Confinement
the walls of the investment container, or the walls of a wax pattern Softens and expands wax pattern, allows maximal hygroscopic expansion The magnitude of the expansion is in direct proportion to the amount of water added during the setting period until a maximum expansion occurs.

Water bath / Amount of Added Water

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Linear hygroscopic setting expansion vs. Amount of water added

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Thermal Expansion (1.0-1.5%)



Directly related to the amount of SiO2 present and to the type of SiO2 employed (quartz vs. crystobalite). The effect of SiO2 will balance the contraction of the gypsum during heating. The maximum thermal expansion is attained at a temperature < 700oC.

SiO2

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Factors to Control Thermal Expansion

 

Thinner mixed less thermal expansion The sufficient amount of SiO2 to prevent any contraction during heating can weaken the investment.

Chemical modifiers, e.g., sodium, potassium and lithium chlorides, are added to eliminates the contraction caused by the gypsum and increases the expansion without the presence of an excessive amount of SiO2.

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Phosphate-bonded investment

Composition


 

Filler (refractory) = quartz or cristobalite or both (80%) Binder = magnesium oxide and acid phosphate Liquid = colloidal silica suspension

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Setting Reactions:

NH4H2PO4 + MgO NH4MgPO4 +H2O The reaction is not simple and changed on
heating.

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Setting and Thermal Expansion



Increased expansion and strength is obtained by adding a combination of different silica particle size. (using a colloidal silica solution instead of water) Modified by

altering the liquid:powder ratio or decreasing the concentration of the special liquid.

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Working and Setting Time



Markedly affected by temperature

The warmer the mix, the faster it sets.

Increased mixing time and mixing efficiency result in a faster set and a greater rise in temperature. In general, the more efficient the mixing, the better the casting in terms of smoothness and accuracy. Mechanical mixing under vacuum is preferred.
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Other Properties


Increasing the special liquid:water ratio used for the mix markedly enhances casting surface smoothness but can lead to oversized extracoronal castings.

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ADA Specification No.42



Specifies two types of phosphatebonded investments for alloys having a solidus temperature above 1080oC

Type I: For inlays, crowns, and other fixed

restorations Type II: For partial dentures and other cast, removable restorations

**Can also be used with alloys having casting temp. below 1080oC**
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Soldering Investments

Are designed to have lower setting and thermal expansions than casting investments

So the assembled parts do not shift in position during the setting and heating of the investment

Do not have as fine a particle size as the casting investment because the smoothness of the mass is less important.

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Examples of Investment Materials

Summary
  

Ideal investment? Composition of investment Types of investment, properties and material selection Types of investment expansion & factors to control Soldering investment
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End of Investment Materials