Mechanical and microstructural evaluation of CoCr alloys manufactured via selective laser melting (SLM)

Abstract

Dental prosthesis components are widely produced with CoCr alloys. New near net shape techniques has been used nowadays as an alternative route. The aim of this study was evaluated the mechanical properties and the microstructural characterization of CoCr dental alloys manufactured by SLM and to investigated the correlation of chemical composition between mechanical properties of standard specimens. The tensile specimens was manufactured by SLM technique in standard dimensions by two different composition of CoCr dental alloy and were chemical analyzed using scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersed X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray fluorescence. The mechanical properties as uniaxial tensile (yield strength, maximum tensile, rupture tensile, elongation and elastic modulus) and Vickers hardness were evaluated. The microstructure of the samples were characterized using optical microscope (OM) and SEM-EDS. The mechanical results indicate higher values for both composition of CoCr alloys fabricated via SLM technique. The micrographs revealed a characteristic morphology of layer used in the SLM technique. Keywords: CoCr alloys, selective laser melting, biomaterial, dental prothesis.