Influence of supply of heat to cobalt-chromium frameworks during soldering and subsequent hardening heat treatment of wrought clasps.

Retentive clasp arms of wrought gold alloy wire were soldered to frameworks made of three dental cobalt-chromium alloys. The clasps were then subjected to a conventional hardening heat treatment. Microstructure and hardness of the cobalt-chromium alloys were determined before and after these operations. The results reveal that the supply of heat during soldering and hardening heat treatment of the clasp does not influence the microstructure and hardness of the cobalt-chromium alloys.