Nickel-Containing Alloys for Medical Application Obtained by Methods of Mechanochemistry and Powder Metallurgy

Abstract

The methods of mechanochemistry, in combination with cold pressing and pressureless sintering, were used to obtain the most popular nickel-based and nickel-containing alloys used in dentistry and implantology. It was shown that the intense mechanical treatment of Ni, Ti, and Cr powders used as reagents, and the application of the above-mentioned simple powder metallurgical technique for densification allows obtaining NiCr and NiTi alloys with controlled structural properties. The nickel-based dental alloys obtained by mechanically activated sintering possess excellent mechanical, technological, and aesthetic properties. These alloys are suitable as dental restorative materials and for production of porcelain veneered constructions like crowns and bridges using the so-called metal-to-ceramic dental technique. It was shown that the method of mechanically assisted synthesis allows obtaining nanosized NiTi alloy at significantly lower temperature in comparison with the traditional high-temperature alloying. It was also shown that after 40 hours intense mechanical treatment of reagents, a direct synthesis of NiTi alloy proceeds. The product has excellent sinterability which enables to produce bodies with controlled porosity appropriate for application in implantology.