Microstructural characterization of Ni-Cr-Mo-Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloys used in prosthetic abutments

Abstract

Purpose: Titanium alloys are commonly used for prosthetic abutments fabrication, but these alloys present high cost and difficult handling. Alternative Ni-Cr alloys with Mo and Ti combination have been proposed. This study compared the alloys Ti-6Al-4V and Ni-Cr-Ti-Mo by analyzing their surface properties such as hardness, morphology and microstructural characterization.

Methods: Five discs (5 x 2 mm) of commercially Ti-6Al-4V and Ni-Cr-Ti-Mo alloys were used to evaluate Vickers hardness by hardness micro indentation test. The same specimens were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) regarding surface morphology and subjected to a metallographic analysis of the microstructure by optical microscopy. Data on surface hardness were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test (? = 0.05).

Results: The Ni-Cr-Mo-Ti alloy showed significantly higher Vickers hardness (kg/mm2) values (452.2 ± 3.9) than the Ti-6Al-4V alloy (375.7 ± 15.2). The surface morphology evaluated by SEM revealed differences between the alloys. Metallographic analyses, for both alloys, showed a two-phase equilibrium microstructure, with the presence of e ? + ? phase for Ti-6Al-4V; and gamma (?) primary phase and gamma-prime (?') as a second phase for Ni-Cr-Mo-Ti.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that both alloys present the requirements to be used in prosthetic abutments.