Biocompatibility and characterization of a Kolsterised(®) medical grade cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy

Metallic Ion Release Behaviors from Cobalt-Chromium Alloys Fabricated by Additive Manufacturing with Mechanical Grinding in an Acidic Saline Solution

This study aimed to investigate the release of metallic ions from cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloys fabricated by additive manufacturing (AM) for comparison with dental casting. Co-Cr alloys were fabricated via AM using selective laser melting (SLM) and electron beam melting (EBM) in powder-bed fusion. Polished and mechanically ground specimens were prepared. Each specimen was analyzed using an electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA). Each specimen was immersed in an acidic saline solution for 7 days in accordance with ISO 10271: 2020. The EPMA indicated the segregation of some elements in the as-prepared SLM and EBM specimens, whereas the polished and ground specimens exhibited a homogenous elemental distribution. The total amount of ion release from the SLM and EBM specimens was confirmed to be less than 7 μg/cm2, which was less than 42 μg/cm2 for the cast specimen. The polished and ground specimens exhibited an even lower ion release than the as-prepared specimens. The amount of ions released from the Co-Cr alloy was less than the 200 μg/cm² requirement of ISO 22674: 2022. Co-Cr alloys fabricated by SLM and EBM could provide superior corrosion resistance to cast specimens. AM could be a valuable method for fabricating appliances and denture frameworks in dentistry.

Effect of Cu and Ti electrodes on surface and electrochemical properties of Electro Discharge Machined (EDMed) structures made of Co-Cr and Ti dental alloys

OBJECTIVES

Previous studies have shown that the use of Cu electrodes compromises the electrochemical properties of Co-Cr and Ti alloys used for the fabrication of implant retained superstructures by Electro Discharge Machining (EDM). A possible solution is the use of Ti instead of Cu electrodes and thus the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Cu and Ti electrodes on surface and electrochemical properties of two types of dental alloys used for fabrication of implant retained superstructures after EDM.

METHODS

Three full arch frameworks were prepared from a Co-Cr and three from Ti6Al7Nb alloy. One framework from each alloy was used as control, one was subjected to EDM with Cu electrodes and the last one with Ti electrodes. Morphological and elemental characterization was studied by SEM/EDX. The electrochemical properties of the alloys were evaluated by Open Circuit Potential (OCP) and Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV) in Ringer's solution. Electrochemical data were analyzed statistically by one way ANOVA and SNK multiple comparison tests at a = 0.05 RESULTS: All groups demonstrate the typical surface after EDM treatment with almost circular valleys and an increase in C and O content compared to control groups. Both alloys demonstrated an uptake of C and Cu by Cu electrodes and C and Ti after treatment with Ti electrodes. The use of Cu electrodes had a detrimental effect on corrosion resistance of Ti alloy.

SIGNIFICANCE

The use of Ti electrodes mitigates the degradation of electrochemical properties compared to Cu electrodes and from this standpoint is safer for the EDM of implant retained superstructures made of Co-Cr and Ti alloys.

Influence of cold rolling on in vitro cytotoxicity and electrochemical behaviour of an Fe-Mn-C biodegradable alloy in physiological solutions

The properties of cold-worked Fe-13Mn-1.2C steel, as candidate material for scaffolding and stenting applications, have been investigated. The study of the electrochemical corrosion susceptibility of Fe-13Mn-1.2C alloy in protein bearing and non-protein bearing physiological solutions, revealed that there were no differences between the as-received, 10% and 20% cold worked Fe-13Mn-1.2C samples. Although protein addition reduces the overall corrosion rate in static immersion degradation tests for both the cold worked and non-cold worked alloys, there were no discernible differences in the corrosion rates of samples with different percentages of cold work deformations. Similarly, potentiodynamic testing showed no differences between the corrosion rates in solutions with and without protein addition. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) results—post static immersion—showed similar values of Fe and Mn concentrations in the electrolyte for all the investigated conditions. Cold working was found to increase Grain Average Misorientation (GAM) and deformation twins within the steel, and, consequently, this led to an increase in the elastic modulus. Hence, cold-rolling may be used to achieve smaller sections (volumes) in order to support the equivalent load of the non-cold worked counterpart, giving a larger surface area to the volume ratio, thereby increasing the corrosion rate, and, in turn, rendering the degradation process shorter. When considering cytocompatibility in vitro, the collected supernatant particulate free Fe-13Mn-1.2C steel electrolytes were seen to be equally cytocompatible with no differences being observed between the different percentage cold work conditions. The presence of solid 80 μm size particles in the seeded elutions were seen to change the results and render the Fe-13Mn-1.2C steel non-cytocompatible.

Assessment of corrosion resistance of cast cobalt- and nickel-chromium dental alloys in acidic environments

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare the degradation resistance of nickel-chromium (Ni-Cr) and cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloys used as a base material for partial dentures in contact with saliva.

METHODS

Wiron® 99 and Wironit Extra-Hard® were selected as representative casting alloys for Ni-Cr and Co-Cr alloys, respectively. The alloys were tested in contact with deionized water, artificial saliva and acidified artificial saliva. Material characterization was performed by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and microhardness and nanohardness testing. The corrosion properties of the materials were then analyzed using open circuit potential analysis and potentiodynamic analysis. Alloy leaching in solution was assessed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry techniques.

RESULTS

Co-Cr alloy was more stable than the Ni-Cr alloy in all solutions tested. Leaching of nickel and corrosion attack was higher in Ni-Cr alloy in artificial saliva compared with the acidified saliva. The corrosion resistance of the Co-Cr alloy was seen to be superior to that of the Ni-Cr alloy, with the former exhibiting a lower corrosion current in all test solutions. Microstructural topographical changes were observed for Ni-Cr alloy in contact with artificial saliva. The Ni-Cr alloy exhibited microstructural changes and lower corrosion resistance in artificial saliva. The acidic changes did not enhance the alloy degradation.

CONCLUSIONS

Ni-Cr alloys are unstable in solution and leach nickel. Co-Cr alloys should be preferred for clinical use.