Acoustic emission signals from gypsum-bonded dental casting molds during thermal processing

To develop a suitable heating program for the investments which affect the casting accuracy/defects of prostheses, a probable microstructural change of the gypsum-bonded investments related to the transition of refractory particles during thermal processing was inspected by the measurement of acoustic emission (AE) signals. Gypsum-bonded cristobalite and quartz investment molds were used. AE measurements were carried out for the specimens in an electric furnace that was heated/cooled at a constant rate. For the heating process of the cristobalite investment, high AE activities were detected in the temperature range where the cristobalite was transformed. However, the AE signals detected were low for the second run of the heating and cooling processes. Even in the heating process, significant AE signals were not detected for the quartz investment. For cristobalite investment molds, micro-cracks are initiated and developed in relation to the transition of cristobalite particles in the mold. This leads to deterioration of the mechanical properties of the cristobalite investment at high temperatures (melt-pouring), and may affect the fitness of cast prostheses.