Analysis of CoCrMo Surface Oxide Removal by Alumina Blasting Before Porcelain Firing in Dental Restorations

摘要

The purpose of this work was to perform a chemical and mechanical characterization of a preoxidized CoCrMo alumina blasted surface. This is a commonly performed surface treatment used in metal-porcelain systems for dental restorations to remove oxides formed during preoxidation heat treatment from the metal's surface. CoCrMo dental alloy's specimens produced by lost wax process were examined in terms of chemical composition using X-Ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS); in terms of mechanical characteristics through the means of a microhardness test and in terms of surface roughness using a profilometer. It was investigated the chemical composition of various surface conditions: non-preoxidized, preoxidized, ground oxidized surface and sandblasted oxidized surface. After alumina blasting, the oxides level on metal's surface remained high. Alumina blasting treatment (Ø110 μm) produced an 84% increase of CoCrMo surface hardening and an increase in surface roughness (Ra=0.58 μm). It was found alumina contaminants on the metal's surface. Therefore, it was concluded that alumina blasting do not entirely removes the oxide layer formed during preoxidation heat treatment. It produced a chemical and mechanical surface modification that can influence the metal-ceramic bond strength.