Abstract
Three kinds of dental alloys (Co-Cr, Ni-Cr, Ag-In) were ground by newly developed TiC-containing wheels with electric conduction. Both the mechanical grinding and the electro-mechanical grinding with several rotational speeds and grinding loads were performed. Also factors affecting the amount of grinding of tested alloys were analyzed and the grinding surface was also observed.
The amount of grinding of all alloys were significantly affected by the grinding method, the rotational speed, and the grinding load. The electro-mechanical grinding showed higher amount of grinding than the mechanical grinding. The amount of grinding by the electro-mechanical grinding increased as the rotational speed increased from 250 m/min to 750 m/min but decreased after the rotational speed rose to 1000 m/min.
The highest amount of grinding was obtained by the electro-mechanical grinding with the grinding load of 150 g, the rotational speed of 750 m/min and the grinding wheel No. 4; a better surface texture was also observed under these conditions.
The electro-mechanical grinding was found to be useful to shorten the grinding-polishing system of dental alloys.
