Abstract
Ti-6Al-4V alloy has both excellent biocompatibility and superior mechanical properties.This Ti-6Al-4V can be deformed greatly and easily at the superplastic temperature of 800℃ to 900℃.The superplastic forming of Ti-6Al-4V was made to apply to fabrication of denture base.Almost the same procedure as for dental casting mold was employed in producing the superplastic forming die by the improved phosphate bonded investment.In the pressure vessel of heat resistant alloy, Ti-6Al-4V plate was formed superplastically on the die by argon gas pressure at 850℃.The fit of superplactic forming Ti-6Al-4V denture base was better than that of casting Co-Cr alloy denture bases.The Ti-6Al-4V alloy might react a little with the die. Because micro Vikers hardness of the cross-section did not go up too much near the surfaces.Even just after being formed, the surfaces were much smoother than that of Co-Cr alloy casting.The tensile strength and yield strength of superplastic forming Ti-6Al-4V were higher than those of Co-Cr castings.The elongation was about 10%.These results show that superplastic forming of Ti-6Al-4V would be suitable for a denture base.
