Abstract
The focus of this work was to determine microstructural features in commercial Ni-Cr alloys which could be used to identify indirectly the presence of beryllium. Thus, eight commercial alloys were characterized by chemical analysis, thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy - back-scattered electron images (SEM/BSE), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results indicate that the presence of beryllium can be inferred from microstructural analysis via XRD and SEM/BSE. The X-ray diffractograms of the beryllium-containing alloys showed clearly the existence of the NiBe intermetallic phase. SEM/BSE images of these alloys show a very characteristic eutectic microstructure which also indicates the presence of this element. These characteristics are not observed in the beryllium-free alloys.
Highlights
The use of metallic infrastructure for dental prosthesis is a well established method of patient rehabilitation that brings appearance, phonetic, functional, nutritional and psychological benefits for patients that have lost a tooth
It should be mentioned that the manufacturer of the commercial alloys Tilite V and Dan Ceramalloy do not report the presence of Be in their compositions, but the ICP-OES analysis indicated the presence of this element
Eight dental Ni-Cr alloys were characterized in terms of chemical analysis, thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy
Summary
The use of metallic infrastructure for dental prosthesis is a well established method of patient rehabilitation that brings appearance, phonetic, functional, nutritional and psychological benefits for patients that have lost a tooth. The base metal alloys increased in market share after 1970, when the gold price started to rise. Among these alloys, the Ni-Cr alloys became popular for fixed partial dentures because of its low cost, good corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties that enable thinner and lighter prostheses than the gold alloy type IV1. The Ni-Cr alloys became popular for fixed partial dentures because of its low cost, good corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties that enable thinner and lighter prostheses than the gold alloy type IV1 These alloys have higher allergenic potential, higher melting point, and are more difficult to weld[2]. Inhalation of dust or fumes containing beryllium can cause chronic beryllium disease (CBD), generating progressive shortness of breath, and may be, in some cases, fatal[7,8]
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