Fractography of cast gypsum

A fractographical study of dental cast gypsum was made in order to correlate the mechanical properties with the microstructure. Wet specimens fractured under tensile stress showed intercrystalline fracture and the tensile strength depended on the porosity present. Thus, it was assumed that tensile strength was dependent on the contact area between individual gypsum crystals and changes in porosity approximated to changes in contact area. Strength differences among specimens of a given W/P ratio, therefore, can be related to differences in intercrystalline contact areas. These theoretical considerations suggest that the classification of dental die stone and dental stone into high and low strength types based on strength properties only would be more practical and less confusing than at present.