Phase transformation behavior in a multipurpose dental casting gold alloy during continuous heating.

Phase transformation in a multipurpose dental casting gold alloy during continuous heating was studied by electrical resistivity measurements, hardness tests, X-ray diffraction and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The behavior can be explained by the following reaction sequences in the nodule: alpha1(fcc) + alpha2(L1(2)) --> alpha1(fcc) + alpha2(L1(2)) + beta(L1(0)), where fcc is face centred cubic. A discontinuous precipitation with very fine nodules contributed to the hardening and the growth produced the softening. This multipurpose gold alloy is characterized by the introduction of a PtZn ordered phase with L1(0) structure instead of a CuAu I phase. Copyright 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers