Casted titanium for dental applications: an XPS and SEM study

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Dental Materials

Background:

• Dental crowns frequently utilize cast titanium due to its biocompatibility and mechanical properties.
• Understanding the interaction between titanium and investment materials is crucial for optimizing casting procedures and ensuring crown integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the surface characteristics and phase composition of cast titanium used for dental crowns.
• To analyze the interaction between cast titanium and the investment material during the Ohara process.

Main Methods:

• X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) for surface elemental analysis.
• X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) for phase identification of titanium and investment.
• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis for surface morphology and elemental composition.

Main Results:

• XRD confirmed the investment composition (SiO2, Mg2P2O7, etc.) and the titanium phases (alpha and beta).
• SEM-EDX showed high concentrations of Si, Mg, and P in the investment material.
• XPS analysis revealed the transformation of SiO2 into metallic Si on the investment surface after contact with cast titanium, indicated by a shifted Si 2p peak.

Conclusions:

• Casting titanium for dental crowns leads to a reaction between titanium and the investment material.
• The investment's silicon dioxide component is reduced to metallic silicon during the casting process.
• This interaction necessitates further investigation to fully understand its implications for dental crown fabrication and performance.