Hitoshi Hamanaka

Wear properties of Ti and Ti-6Al-7Nb castings for dental prostheses.

Titanium has been increasingly applied to dental prostheses because of its biocompatibility. However, application remains limited, due to the low strength and poor wear resistance of unalloyed titanium. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the wear resistance of high-strength Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy castings for dental application. Test specimens were cast from commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti grades 2 and 3) and Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy ingots, and subjected to a wear test simulating the occlusal loading pattern. Wear resistance was evaluated by the weight loss during the test. Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy was found to exhibit lower weight loss than CP-Ti. Moreover, scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observation after the test revealed that the worn surface of Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy is much smoother than that of CP-Ti. These results indicate that Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy castings can be used to produce dental prostheses of improved wear resistance and mechanical strength.

Mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy dental castings.

With the aim of applying a novel titanium alloy, Ti–6Al–7Nb, to a dental casting material, a comprehensive research work was carried out on its characteristics, such as castability, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance in the present study. As a result, Ti–6Al–7Nb alloy exhibited sufficient castability by a dental casting method for titanium alloys and enough mechanical properties for dental application. It is also showed excellent corrosion resistance through an immersion test in 1.0% lactic acid and an anodic polarization test in 0.9% NaCl solution. From these results, it is concluded that this Ti–6Al–7Nb alloy is applicable as a dental material in place of Ti–6Al–4V alloy, which includes cytotoxic vanadium.

AMOUNT OF HYDROXYL RADICAL ON CALCIUM-ION-IMPLANTED TITANIUM AND POINT OF ZERO CHARGE OF CONSTITUENT OXIDE OF THE SURFACE-MODIFIED LAYER

To compare the surface properties of calcium-ion (Ca2+)-implanted titanium with those of titanium and to investigate the mechanism of bone conductivity of Ca2+-implanted titanium, amounts of hydroxyl radical of Ca2+-implanted titanium and titanium were estimated. Also, the point of zero charge (p.z.c.) of oxide constituting surface oxides of Ca2+-implanted titanium and titanium was determined. Results showed that the amount of active hydroxyl radical on Ca2+-implanted titanium was found to be significantly larger than that on titanium, indicating that the number of electric-charging sites of Ca2+-implanted titanium in electrolyte is more than that of titanium. The p.z.c. values of rutile (TiO2), anatase (TiO2), and perovskite (CaTiO3), were estimated to be 4.6, 5.9, and 8.1, respectively. Thus, Ca2+-implanted titanium surface is charged more positively in bioliquid than titanium, accelerating the adsorption of phosphate ions.

Influence of aging heat treatment on mechanical properties of biomedical Ti–Zr based ternary alloys containing niobium

Titanium–zirconium based alloys containing a small amount of niobium were investigated in order to evaluate their possible use as biomedical materials. Zirconium, which belongs to the IVa group, is known to have good corrosion resistance and biocompatibility similar to titanium. As the titanium–zirconium system shows a complete solid solution, a wide variation of alloy design is available and large quantities of solid-solution hardening must be possible. Niobium, having a β-phase stabilizing effect, was chosen as a ternary element in order to control desirably the microstructure. There have been no reports which suggest its harm to a living body. The alloys containing 2% or 3% niobium showed the highest hardness value after aging heat treatment at 773 K. In contrast to this, no alteration of hardness was seen in specimens aged at 1073 K. Through conventional X-ray diffractometry and in situ X-ray analysis using a hot stage, β-phase precipitation in the A matrix was identified. From the above results, it is concluded that alloys containing 2%–3% niobium are hopeful candidates for new kinds of biomedical alloys, when they are heat treated under suitable conditions.

Dental Casting of Titanium and Ni-Ti Alloys by a New Casting Machine

The purpose of this study was to develop a new casting machine for titanium and Ni-Ti alloys. Properties of cast pure titanium and Ni-Ti alloys were studied by means of the tensile and casting tests. As gas in the mold was removed by the mold being heated under a high vacuum, the reaction between the molten metal and the mold decreased. The new control system and the two types of crucibles developed proved very useful for prevention of internal macro-defects in castings and for improvement of castability. Mechanical properties and castability of pure titanium were improved. Ni- Ti alloys could be cast without loss of their shape-memory effect or super-elasticity characteristics. The new casting machine is thought to be promising for the casting of titanium and Ni-Ti alloys. Furthermore, we can cast these alloys using conventional techniques and investments.

Effect of heat treatment with the mould on the super-elastic property of Ti–Ni alloy castings for dental application

Tensile property of Ti–50.85Ni (mol %) alloy castings was investigated quantitatively in relation to the thermal behavior accompanied with phase transformation to evaluate the effect of heat treatment after casting with the mould in air. The heat treatment temperature was 713 or 773 K, and the period was 0.9, 1.8, or 3.6 ks. Apparent proof stress of the castings decreased with increasing period of heat treatment, and the decrease was larger with the treatment at 773 K. Residual strain also decreased by the heat treatment, however, it was low with the treatment for relatively short period, i.e. 713 K-0.9 and 1.8 ks, and 773 K-0.9 ks treatments. From the thermal behavior measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the ascent in the transformation temperatures and the increase in the thermal peak height appeared to influence the changes in the tensile property. These changes by heat treatment were believed to be effective to utilize more flexibility, less stress and less permanent deformation in dental castings.

Stress transmission through Ti-Ni alloy, titanium and stainless steel in impact compression test.

Impact stress transmission of Ti-Ni alloy was evaluated for biomedical stress shielding. Transformation temperatures of the alloy were investigated by means of DSC. An impact compression test was carried out with use of split-Hopkinson pressure-bar technique with cylindrical specimens of Ti-Ni alloy, titanium and stainless steel. As a result, the transmitted pulse through Ti-Ni alloy was considerably depressed as compared with those through titanium and stainless steel. The initial stress reduction was large through Ti-Ni alloy and titanium, but the stress reduction through Ti-Ni alloy was more continuous than titanium. The maximum value in the stress difference between incident and transmitted pulses through Ti-Ni alloy or titanium was higher than that through stainless steel, while the stress reduction in the maximum stress through Ti-Ni alloy was statistically larger than that through titanium or stainless steel. Ti-Ni alloy transmitted less impact stress than titanium or stainless steel, which suggested that the loading stress to adjacent tissues could be decreased with use of Ti-Ni alloy as a component material in an implant system. ©2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers

Basic properties of superelastic Ni-Ti alloy ligature wires for a new intermaxillary fixation method

A new continuous wiring method of intermaxillary fixation with super-elastic Ni-Ti alloy ligature wires was developed to avoid the risk in postoperative emergency. Differential scanning calorimetry, three-point bending tests and fastening tests were carried out to investigate basic properties of the wires. Transformation temperatures of the Ni-Ti alloy wires were in the range suitable for exhibiting super-elasticity at body temperature. The Ni-Ti alloy wires possessed enough bending flexibility to be used in the continuous wiring method and showed great recoverable displacement in the fastening test. With use of these properties, easy removal in an emergency and uniform fixation can be attained.

Super-elastic property of Ti-Ni alloy for use in dentistry.

The super-elasticity of Ti-Ni alloy was investigated in tensile and bending tests to evaluate the mechanical properties of the castings and heat treatment effect on the bending properties of the wires for new clinical applications of the alloy in prosthodontics and orthodontics. In terms of the tensile properties of the castings, apparent proof stress increased and elongation decreased with the small increase in nickel content or with the decrease in titanium purity. This result suggests that precise control of the materials is indispensable to utilize the super-elasticity in dental cast appliances. In terms of the bending properties of Ti-Ni alloy wires, low residual deflection and small load/deflection ratio were obtained by the second heat treatment between 733 and 813 K, which was found to be suitable for the shape memory treatment of orthodontic appliances. Moreover, the functional force was changeable within this treatment temperature range.