Abstract
Plain and fretting fatigue characteristics of dental low-noble Ag-Pd-Au-Cu-Zn (S-12) alloys with different microstructures obtained by solution treatment and aging after solution treatment were investigated. In addition, the fracture surface and the surfaces of the specimen and pad after the fretting tests were also examined. The fretting fatigue strength of the S-12 alloy subjected to both heat treatments is lesser than its plain fatigue strength especially in the high cycle fatigue life region. The fretting fatigue strength of the S-12 alloy aged after the solution treatment is less than that of the one subjected only to solution treatment. Small fretting fatigue cracks initiate at the wear scars; these cracks link with each other, thereby leading to the main crack.
