Casting Alloys & Investments
Gold Casting Alloys (Type I-IV)
- Type I (soft) — inlays under low stress.
- Type II (medium) — inlays/onlays.
- Type III (hard) — crowns, short-span FPDs.
- Type IV (extra-hard) — RPD frameworks, long-span FPDs (highest strength).
Base Metal Alloys
Nickel-chromium and cobalt-chromium are common; Co-Cr is widely used for RPD frameworks (light, stiff).
Investments
- Gypsum-bonded — for conventional gold casting (lower temperatures).
- Phosphate-bonded — for high-fusing base metal alloys and ceramics.
Exam Tips ⭐
Type IV gold = strongest (frameworks); gypsum-bonded for gold; phosphate-bonded for base metals.