Altered corrosion resistance from casting to stainless steel posts

Heat treatment during the burnout procedure may cause corrosion of the stainless steel post. This study was undertaken to determine whether alteration of the corrosion resistance of stainless steel posts occurs as a result of various simulated burnout procedures. Stainless steel posts were divided into five groups of five posts: group 1, control; 2, gypsum-bonded investment, bench cooled; 3, gypsum-bonded investment, quenched; 4, phosphate-bonded investment, bench cooled; and 5, phosphate-bonded investment, quenched. The posts were placed in individual containers of Ringer's solution and observed at 30, 180, and 600 days. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, optical emission spectroscopy, and optical microscopy were used to evaluate the posts qualitatively and quantitatively. Investment and heat treatment altered the metallic structure of stainless steel posts. Prefabricated posts submitted to simulated burnout procedures had a noticeable reduction in corrosion resistance. Direct casting to stainless steel posts is contraindicated.