Metallographic texture analysis of dental materials by polarizing microscopy in the incidental light

Incidental polarized light microscopy can be used for the optical analysis of crystal phases with similar anisotropic behavior or preferred textures in polished sections. In this method, the vibration mode of the reflected light is determined by remarkable interference colors in the microscope using a compensator plate. The application of this method for the analysis of dental materials is demonstrated with amalgams and gold-reduced alloys. As a prerequisite, a modified procedure for preparing suitable polished sections of inhomogenous materials is described. Employing this optical and a crystallographic computing method, more detailed information about the way of element replacement in the course of the chemical reaction can be obtained. The results of these investigations also warrant the assumption that coherent crystal intergrowth which prefers low indicated and closely packed lattice directions, gives rise to a good adhesive strength of the bonding in the alloy.