Alpha-case Layer Research Articles

Effect of Air Abrasion on the Marginal Configuration of Titanium Crowns after Casting

ABSTRACT The present study was carried out to evaluate and compare the effect of air abrasion on marginal accuracy of titanium crowns after casting. A total of 90 samples were prepared which were divided in three groups of 30 specimens each of shoulder, chamfer and shoulder with bevel marginal configurations respectively. Thirty samples were air abraded using 120 μm particle size of aluminum oxide particle and remaining 30 specimens by 250 μm particle sizes respectively. The length from the reference line and tip of the cast specimens before and after sand blasting was measured with the help of traveling microscope. Same specimens were subjected to trimming for removal of alpha case layer for a standardized time, speed and pressure. The basic data of marginal discrepancy due to sand blasting and alpha case removal for each marginal configuration were evaluated and compared with data for the control group using student ‘t’ test and ANOVA. The smaller the margin angle, the greater was the loss of alloy after air abrasion (shoulder with bevel > chamfer > shoulder). Particle size of the abrasive also influenced the vertical marginal loss, as the particle size increased from 120 to 250 μm, marginal loss also increased. Finishing of casting margins after sandblasting also induced vertical marginal loss. How to cite this article Yadav B, Malhotra P, Nadiger R, Yadav H. Effect of Air Abrasion on the Marginal Configuration of Titanium Crowns after Casting. Int J Prosthodont Restor Dent 2013;3(4):131-135.

Improved Corrosion Resistance and Thinner Alpha-Case Layer on Titanium Casting Using Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>–5Ti as Investment Material

Improved Corrosion Resistance and Thinner Alpha-Case Layer on Titanium Casting Using Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>–5Ti as Investment Material

Alpha-Case Kinetics and Surface Crack Growth in the High-Temperature Alloy TIMETAL 834 Under Creep Conditions

Investigations of Timetal 834 crept specimens showed that a uniform alpha-case layer was developed at the surfaces of all specimens tested in air at 823 K to 923 K (550 °C to 650 °C). The formation of this alpha-case was a result of the inward diffusion of oxygen, which is an alpha stabilizer, and other elements promoting the transformation of the beta matrix into an alpha phase and, thus, modifying the microstructure at the surfaces of these test pieces. The thickness of this alpha-case was increasing in a parabolic manner with increasing exposure time and temperature. Cracks were clearly observed at the surface of the crept specimens whose depths were greater at lower stresses. Interestingly, an alpha-case was also developed at the surfaces of the penetrating cracks with the case thickness decreasing towards the crack tip. This information was used to calculate the times at which the cracks initiated.

Material morphological characteristics in laser ablation of alpha case from titanium alloy

Alpha case (an oxygen enriched alloy layer) is commonly formed in forged titanium alloys during the manufacturing process and it reduces the service life of the materials. This layer is normally removed mechanically or chemically. This paper reports the feasibility and characteristics of using a short pulsed laser to remove oxygen-enriched alpha case layer from a titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) substrate. The material removal rate, i.e., ablation rate, and ablation threshold of the alpha case titanium were experimentally determined, and compared with those for the removal of bulk Ti6Al4V. Surface morphologies of laser processed alpha case titanium layer, especially that of cracks at different ablated depths, were carefully examined, and also compared with those for Ti6Al4V. It has been shown that in the alpha case layer, laser ablation has always resulted in crack formation while for laser ablation of alpha case free Ti6Al4V layers, cracking was not present. In addition, the surface is rougher within the alpha case layer and becomes smoother (Ra – 110nm) once the substrate Ti-alloy is reached. The work has demonstrated that laser is a feasible processing tool for removing alpha case titanium, and could also be used for the rapid detection of the presence of alpha case titanium on Ti6Al4V surfaces in aerospace applications.

Chemically Milled Alpha-Case Layer from Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Investment Cast

The as cast Ti6Al4V, obtained after investment casting with yttria stabilized zirconia face-coat, was chemically milled using a mixture of hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid. This process removed completely the alpha-case layer. Lower hardness and almost no oxygen contamination are revealed after microhardness measurement, Energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction analysis. The hydrofluoric acid/nitric acid ratio, pickled Ti6Al4V surface, pickling efficiency, pickling rate, immersion time and solution temperature are discussed.

High Pressure Waterjets – An Innovative Means of Alpha Case Removal for Superplastically Formed Titanium Alloys

Ultra high-pressure waterjets (WJ) have gained consideration as a viable alternative to conventional material removal and cleaning methods such as chemical milling, grit blasting, and grinding. Waterjets have often been considered for the stripping of unwanted coatings, but they also exhibit an inherent ability for the controlled milling of metallic materials. The waterjet material removal process poses a secondary benefit – the material erosion occurs due to the repetitive impact of droplets within the waterjet stream, which also serve to induce compressive residual stresses in the shallow sub-surface layers of the work piece. An experimental study was conducted to explore the removal of the alpha case layer on Superplastically Formed conventional and fine grain Ti-6Al-4V specimens. The resulting surface roughness parameters and completeness of alpha layer removal were characterized. Based on the experimental results, waterjet removal processes may serve as an alternate method for the post-processing of Superplastically Formed titanium alloys.

High Pressure Waterjets – An Innovative Means of Alpha Case Removal for Superplastically Formed Titanium Alloys

Ultra high-pressure waterjets (WJ) have gained consideration as a viable alternative to conventional material removal and cleaning methods such as chemical milling, grit blasting, and grinding. Waterjets have often been considered for the stripping of unwanted coatings, but they also exhibit an inherent ability for the controlled milling of metallic materials. The waterjet material removal process poses a secondary benefit – the material erosion occurs due to the repetitive impact of droplets within the waterjet stream, which also serve to induce compressive residual stresses in the shallow sub-surface layers of the work piece. An experimental study was conducted to explore the removal of the alpha case layer on Superplastically Formed conventional and fine grain Ti-6Al-4V specimens. The resulting surface roughness parameters and completeness of alpha layer removal were characterized. Based on the experimental results, waterjet removal processes may serve as an alternate method for the post-processing of Superplastically Formed titanium alloys.

Grindability of alpha-case formed on cast titanium

The hardened alpha-case (alpha-case) layer inevitably forms on the surface of titanium castings when prepared by investment casting. Because the hardness of the alpha-case is incomparable to that of the interior structure, the perception exists that the alpha-case is difficult to remove during cutting, grinding and polishing. Grindability (ease of grinding) of cast cpTi and cast Ti-6Al-4V was evaluated by grinding cast specimens incrementally using a SiC abrasive wheel. The present study revealed that the presence of the brittle alpha-case with lower fracture toughness is beneficial in grinding titanium. The alpha-case on the ductile cpTi can be ground much easier than its bulk interior structure. In less ductile Ti-6Al-4V, the grinding rate is much higher than that of cpTi, and the alpha-case and its interior structure are at similar levels since the fracture toughness of its alpha-case and the bulk material is not large enough.

Effects of airborne‐particle abrasion, sodium hydroxide anodization, and electrical discharge machining on porcelain adherence to cast commercially pure titanium

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of airborne-particle abrasion (APA), sodium hydroxide anodization (SHA), and electrical discharge machining (EDM) on cast titanium surfaces and titanium-porcelain adhesion. Ninety titanium specimens were cast with pure titanium and the alpha-case layer was removed. Specimens were randomly divided into three groups. Ten specimens from each group were subjected to APA. SHA was applied to the second subgroups, and the remaining specimens were subjected to the EDM. For the control group, 10 specimens were cast using NiCr alloy and subjected to only APA. Surfaces were examined by using scanning electron microscope and a surface profilometer. Three titanium porcelains were fused on the titanium surfaces, whereas NiCr specimens were covered with conventional porcelain. Titanium-porcelain adhesion was characterized by a 3-point bending test. Statistical analysis showed that the porcelain-metal bond strength of the control group was higher than that of the titanium-porcelain system (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the bond strengths of titanium groups (p 0.05), except the bond strengths of Noritake Super Porcelain TI-22 groups on which APA and SHA were applied (p < 0.05). SHA and EDM as surface treatment did not improve titanium-porcelain adhesion when compared to APA.

The effects of different types of investments on the alpha-case layer of titanium castings

Different types of investments affect the formation of the alpha-case (alpha-case) layer on titanium castings. This alpha-case layer may possibly alter the mechanical properties of cast titanium, which may influence the fabrication of removable and fixed prostheses. The formation mechanism for the alpha-case layer is not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 3 types of investments on the microstructure, composition, and microhardness of the alpha-case layer on titanium castings. Fifteen wax columns with a diameter of 5 mm and a length of 40 mm were divided into 3 groups of 5 patterns each. Patterns were invested using 3 types of investment materials, respectively, and were cast in pure titanium. The 3 types of materials tested were SiO(2)-, Al(2)O(3)-, and MgO-based investments. All specimens were sectioned and prepared for metallographic observation. The microstructure and composition of the surface reaction layer of titanium castings were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The surface microhardness (VHN) for all specimens was measured using a hardness testing machine, and a mean value for each group was calculated. The alpha-case layer on titanium castings invested with SiO(2)-, Al(2)O(3)-, and MgO-based investments consisted of 3 layers-namely, the oxide layer, alloy layer, and hardening layer. In this study, the oxide layer and alloy layer were called the reaction layer. The thickness of the reaction layer for titanium castings using SiO(2)-, Al(2)O(3)-, and MgO-based investments was approximately 80 microm, 50 microm, and 14 microm, respectively. The surface microhardness of titanium castings made with SiO(2)-based investments was the highest, and that with MgO-based investments was the lowest. The type of investment affects the microstructure and microhardness of the alpha-case layer of titanium castings. Based on the thickness of the surface reaction layer and the surface microhardness of titanium castings, MgO-based investment materials may be the best choice for casting these materials.