• Korean Journal of Dental Materials
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.337-348
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• 2017

In this study, the effect of cooling rate control on the change in hardness of the multi-purpose Ag-Pd-Zn-In-Sn alloy during porcelain firing simulation and post-firing heat treatment was investigated, and the following results were obtained. Softening of the multi-purpose Ag-Pd-Zn-In-Sn alloy during porcelain firing simulation was suppressed by controlling the cooling rate. When the cooling rate was adjusted to stage 0(firing chamber moves immediately to upper end position), the alloy was softened during porcelain firing simulation, and the hardness was greatly increased by the additional post-firing heat treatment. When the cooling rate was adjusted to stage 3(firing chamber remains closed), the alloy was not softened even after porcelain firing simulation, and the hardness was apparently lowered by the additional post-firing heat treatment. The apparent increase in hardness in the post-firing heat treated alloy after porcelain firing simulation at cooling rate of stage 0 attributed to the active precipitation. The apparent decrease in hardness in the post-firing heat treated alloy after porcelain firing simulation at cooling rate of stage 3 attributed to the fact that the precipitates were solutionized into the matrix by the post-firing heat treatment.

• Korean Journal of Dental Materials
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2017

The hardening effect by ice-quenching after oxidation of a Pd-Ag-Sn-Au metal-ceramic alloy during porcelain firing simulation was investigated by means of hardness test, field emission scanning electron microscopic observations, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The hardness decreased by ice-quenching after oxidation, which was induced by the homogenization of the ice-quenched specimen. The decreased hardness by ice-quenching after oxidation was recovered from the wash stage which was the first stage of the remaining firing process for bonding porcelain. After wash stage, the hardness of the ice-quenched specimens decreased during the subsequent porcelain firing process. But the final hardness of the ice-quenched specimens after oxidation was higher than that of the specimens cooled at stage 0 after oxidation. The increase in hardness of the specimens during the first firing process was caused by the lattice strains generated at the interface between the face-centered cubic Pd-Ag-rich matrix and the face-centered tetragonal Pd3(Sn, Ga, In) precipitate. The decrease in hardness of the specimens during the remaining firing process was caused by the microstructural coarsening.

• Korean Journal of Dental Materials
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2017

The effect of cooling rate on precipitation hardening of a Pd-Cu-Ga-Zn metal-ceramic alloy during porcelain firing simulation was investigated and the following results were obtained. When the cooling rate was fast (Stage 0), the hardness of the alloy increased at each firing step and the high hardness value was maintained. When the cooling rate was slow (Stage 3), the hardness was the highest at the first stage of the firing, but the final hardness of the alloy after complete firing was lower. The increase in hardness of the specimens cooled at the cooling rate of Stage 0 after each firing step was caused by precipitation hardening. The decrease in hardness of the specimens cooled at the cooling rate of Stage 3 after each firing step was attributed to the coarsening of the spot-like precipitates formed in the matrix and plate-like precipitates. The matrix and the plate-like precipitates were composed of the $Pd_2(Cu,Ga,Zn)$ phase of CsCl-type, and the particle-like structure was composed of the Pd-rich ${\alpha}$-phase of face-centered cubic structure. Through the porcelain firing process, Cu, Ga, and Zn, which were dissolved in Pd-rich ${\alpha}$ particles, precipitated with Pd, resulting in the phase separation of the Pd-rich ${\alpha}$ particles into the Pd-rich ${\alpha}^{\prime}$ particles and ${\beta}^{\prime}$ precipitates composed of $Pd_2(Cu,Ga,Zn)$. These results suggested that the durability of the final prosthesis made of the Pd-Cu-Ga-Zn alloy can be improved when the cooling rate is fast during porcelain firing simulation.

• Korean Journal of Dental Materials
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.343-349
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• 2016

This experiment was carried out to examine whether the post-firing heat treatment is effective in increasing the hardness of metal-ceramic alloy of the Pd-Au-Ag-Sn system. Precipitation hardening by holding at $600^{\circ}C$ after simulated complete porcelain firing in a metal-ceramic alloy of the Pd-Au-Ag-Sn system was examined by observing the change in hardness, crystal structure, and microstructure using a hardness test, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The hardness of the alloy increased apparently by holding the specimen at $600^{\circ}C$ for 30 min after simulated complete porcelain firing. The formation of fine grain interior precipitates during holding at $600^{\circ}C$ caused the formation of lattice strain in the grain interior, resulting in apparent hardening. The faster cooling rate (stage 0) during simulated complete porcelain firing resulted in more effective precipitation hardening during holding at $600^{\circ}C$. From the above results, an appropriate post-firing heat treatment, such as holding at $600^{\circ}C$ for 30 min after complete porcelain firing may increase the durability of metal-ceramic prostheses composed of Pd-Au-Ag-Sn alloy.