Mechanical properties and microstructures of dental cast Ti-6Nb-4Cu, Ti-18Nb-2Cu, and Ti-24Nb-1Cu alloys.

The mechanical properties -tensile strength, yield strength, elongation after fracture, and Vickers hardness- and alloy phases of the dental cast alloys Ti-6%Nb-4%Cu, Ti-18%Nb-2%Cu, and Ti-24%Nb-1%Cu were investigated. Ti-6%Nb-4%Cu consisted of a single α-phase, while Ti-18%Nb-2%Cu and Ti-24%Nb-1%Cu consisted of α- and β-phases. The tensile strengths, yield strengths, and hardnesses of these alloys were higher than those of Ti-5%Cu and Ti-30%Nb; however, their breaking elongations were smaller. These differences in the mechanical properties are attributable to solid-solution strengthening or to precipitation strengthening by the dual-phase (α+β) structure. Thus, Ti-Nb-Cu alloys are suitable for use in high-strength dental prostheses, such as implantretained superstructures and narrow-diameter implants.