A comparison of the hardness of different types of titanium and conventional metal ceramics

Abstract

This study compared the surface hardness of machine milled titanium and cast titanium, and the surface hardness profile of a gold-palladium alloy, a nickel chromium alloy, milled and cast titanium. For each group, 15 discoid specimens, 10 mm in diameter and 5 mm thick, were fabricated by either casting or milling. Five specimens of each group underwent one of three treatments: (1) no heat treatment, (2) a standard heat treatment, or (3) an extended heat treatment. Knoop hardness values were determined. Results indicated that the Knoop hardness of cast titanium was less than that of the cast titanium standard treatment group, which was less than the Knoop hardness of the cast titanium extended treatment group. Knoop hardness of milled titanium was less than that of the milled titanium standard treatment and milled titanium extended treatment groups. For the surface hardness profile, cast titanium showed a decreasing surface hardness as the distance from the surface of the specimen increased. No such trend was identified for the other groups tested.