Flow and Fracture of Dental Alloys Determined by a Microbend Tester

The microstructure of an alloy is the fundamental variable on which the mechanical properties of an alloy depend. For testing the mechanical properties, however, common tests, such as tensile strength or hardness, are generally used. This may be due to the fact that the microstructure study is more complicated and time-consuming. The common method of microstructure study is to perform a series of tensile tests and then obtain the microstructure of the specimens after the tests are completed so as to correlate the structure with the performance data. The actual contribution of each observable microstructure to flow and fracture is rather difficult to detect. When the structure is examined after the fracture has taken place, some of the evidence is lost that would have been available if continuous observation of the structure had been possible. In 1955 Flinn and Trojan' developed an apparatus by means of which the microstructure of an alloy under stress can be studied. The stress can be increased while the microstructure is under observation. Thus any changes that may take place can be detected in any of the phases. When an alloy with a complicated microstructure is studied, the microbend test shows its main advantage, since it is rather difficult to predict how the different phases of a complicated structure will behave under different stresses. With this test the effect of such stress on various phases may be continuously watched under the microscope. The purpose of this study was to observe the behavior of different phases of cobalt-base and gold alloys used in dentistry for partial denture framework when they were subjected to bending stresses.