Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of heat treatment on mechanical properties in $0.016^{{\prime}{\prime}}{\times}0.022^{{\prime}{\prime}}$ blue Elgiloy wires and to measure the amounts of nickel and chromium released from the wires in artificial saliva. Ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation were measured with universal testing machine (Instron). and the amounts of nickel and chromium released from the sample were measured with atomic absorption spectrophotometer after one week immersion in the artificial saliva. Ultimate tensile strength and yield strength were progressively increased below $1000^{\circ}F$, but elongation was decreased. And the results were reversed above $1100^{\circ}F$. After heat treatment of the sample for 9 minutes at $1000^{\circ}F$, the maximum tensile strength and yield strength were $213.6kg/mm^2$, $140.1kg/mm^2$, respectively. Both tensile strength and yield strength were decreased progressively above $1100^{\circ}F$. Elongation was appeared the minimum value (8.6%) after heat treatment for 9 minutes and 12 minutes at $1000^{\circ}F$. There was a pronounced increase in nickel and chromium liberation with increasing time and temperature. The maximum amounts of nickel and chromium released form the sample were $4.947{\mu}m/cm^2$, $3.088{\mu}g/cm^2$, respectively after heat treatment for 12 minutes at $1300^{\circ}F$. Heat treatment is applied to orthodontic wires, especially cobalt-chromium alloys, for the purpose of stress-relievning and hardening. When the heat-treatment of orthodontic wires, the heating procedure should be well controlled in order to have no effect on corrosion resistance and mechanical properties.