Cobalt-chromium-titanium alloy for removable partial dentures.

Pure elemental titanium was alloyed with cobalt and chromium in dilutions of 4%, 5%, and 6% to evaluate the suitability of the resulting alloy for removable partial denture frameworks. The physical properties of the Co-Cr-Ti alloy were compared to the properties of a commercial pure titanium and Vitallium. Clasp replicas were cast in Co-Cr-Ti and Vitallium and subjected to cyclic deflection. Representative specimens from the fatigue failure tests were then evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and analyzed for elemental content. The 5% titanium dilution of cobalt-chromium proved to have the best physical properties and was used for comparison with the pure titanium and Vitallium. The Co-Cr-5% Ti had significantly better physical properties than pure titanium and a greater flexure fatigue limit than the Vitallium alloy.