Investment Materials 1 - 2

INVESTMENT
MATERIALS 1 & 2
DR THULFIQAR
DM
BLOCK 3
Content
1. Key Term
2. Composition of investment
a) Gypsum
b) Silica
c) modifiers
3. Properties of Ideal Investment
4. Types of Investment
KEY TERMS
The process of enveloping the pattern in a material
which will become the mold is called investing
• In other words : The operation of forming the
mold is described as investing
Investment material : a molding material that

surrounds the pattern and subsequently hardens
and forms the mold after the wax pattern is
eliminated by lost wax process (burn-out)
• OR : can be described as a ceramic material that is
suitable for forming a mold into which a metal or
alloy is cast
Refractory : capable of sustaining exposure to a high
temperature without significant degradation
Divesting : process of removing investment from a

cast metal or hot-pressed ceramic
Burnout : process of heating an invested mold to

eliminate the embedded wax or plastic pattern (resin)
Direct wax technique: process whereby a wax pattern

is prepared in the mouth directly on prepared teeth
Indirect wax technique : procedure in which a wax

pattern is prepared on a die
COMPOSITION
 Refractory
 Heat resistant silica based materials
→Thermal expansion
 Binder
 Gypsum, Phosphate compound, Silica compound
→To hold refractory material particles (gives a coherent
solid mass)
 Modifiers
 NaCl, boric acid, potassium sulfate, graphite, copper,
magnesium oxide
→Modify various physical properties, i.e thermal
expansion 5
Gypsum
• The α-hemihydrate form of gypsum is generally
the binder for investments used in casting gold-
containing alloys with melting range below
1000°C
• When this material is heated to the temperatures

required for complete dehydration and
sufficiently high to ensure complete casting, it
shrinks considerably and occasionally fractures
Silica
Silica (SiO2) is added to provide a refractory
component during the heating of the investment to
regulate the thermal expansion.
 Usually, the wax pattern is eliminated from the

mold by heat.
 During the heating, the investment is expected to
expand thermally to compensate partially or
totally for the casting shrinkage of the gold alloy.
 Gypsum shrinks considerably when it is heated,
regardless of whether it is set plaster or stone.
 If the proper forms of silica are employed in the
investment, this contraction during heating (of
gypsum) can be controlled the expansion
produced by silica
 Silica exists in at least three allotropic forms:
– Quartz, tridymite and cristobalite
The termal phase transition for silica
Modifiers
 In addition to silica, certain modifying agents,
coloring matter, and reducing agents such as
carbon and powdered copper, are added.
 The reducing agents are used in some investments
to provide a non-oxidizing atmosphere in the mold
when the gold alloy is cast.
– Unlike the dental stones, a setting expansion is
usually desirable to assist in compensating for
the contraction of the alloy.
PROPERTIES REQUIRED OF AN
INVESTMENT
Expansion : To compensate the shrinkage of metal
and wax pattern
Should not decompose at high temperature (gases
effect)
Strength at various temperature (impact of molten
metal)
Porous (to allow the escape of gases and air)
Consistent casting temperature
Easy to manipulate (harden within relatively short
time)
Smooth surfaces of castings
Ease of divestment : should break away readily
from the surface of the metal and should not have
reacted chemically with it
Inexpensive
AVAILABLE MATERIALS
There are 3 main groups of investment materials in
common use :
 Gypsum-bonded
 Silica-bonded
 Phosphate-bonded
TYPE 1
GYPSUM-BONDED INVESTMENT
1. Composition
2. Setting expansion – hygroscopic, normal
3. Thermal expansion
• These materials are supplied as powders which are
mixed with water
• Composition of this powder : a mixture of
– Silica (SiO2)
– Calcium sulphate hemihydrate
– (Gypsum product)
– Other minor components including powdered
graphite / powdered copper & various modifiers
to control setting time
• Binder: a-hemihydrate form of gypsum (25-45%)
• +H2O  CaSO4.2H2O
•  Shrinkage when heated
• Not to be heated above 700oC 
decomposition
• Refractory: Silica (SiO2)
• Quartz, Cristobalite
• The density decreases as the a form changes to
the b form when heated, with a resulting
increase in volume increase in the linear
expansion.
• Modifiers:
• coloring agent, reduction agents e.g. carbon,21 Cu
ANSI/ADA Specification No. 126
(ISO7490)
For gypsum-bonded casting investments : 2

types of investment (suitable for casting gold
alloys) are available :
 Type I: For casting inlays and crowns

 Type II: For casting complete denture
and partial removable dental prosthesis
bases
17
Expansion
 Setting Expansion
– Normal setting expansion
– Hygroscopic setting expansion
 Thermal Expansion
18
Setting Expansion
(normal vs. hygroscopic)
• Stage I: initial mix
• Stage II: crystals of dihydrate are formed
Lt: water around the particles is reduced by the
hydration & the particles are drawn more closely
together by the surface tension action of water
Rt: hydrated water is replaced
• Stage III: crystals grow
Lt: water is decreased, particles are drawn
together
Rt: water is replaced, crystals grow freely 24
Stage IV and V
(Expansion & Termination)
The effect become more marked
The crystals being inhibited on the left become
intermeshed and entangled much sooner than those
on right, which grow much freely during early stages
before the intermeshing finally prevents the further
expansion
Normal Setting Expansion (0.3-0.4%)
 Occurs from CaSO4.1/2 H2O CaSO4 .2H2O
 A mixture of silica and calcinated
gypsum (calcium sulphate hemihydrate)
results in setting expansion greater than that
of the gypsum alone.
 The silica particles probably interfere with the
intermeshing and interlocking of the
crystals as they form.
 Thus the thrust of the crystals is outward
during growth, and they increase expansion.
 Can be regulated by retarders and accelerators.
 The purpose of the setting expansion is to aid in
enlarging the mold to compensate partially for the
casting shrinkage
 The effectiveness of the setting expansion in enlarging
the mold containing the wax pattern may be related
to the thermal expansion of the pattern caused by the
heat of reaction that occurs coincidentally with the
setting of the investment
 The setting expansion is thus effective only to the
extent that the exothermic heat is transmitted to the
pattern
 Manipulative conditions that increase the exothermic
heat increase the effective setting expansion
 As the investment sets, it eventually gains sufficient
strength to produce a dimensional change in the
wax pattern as setting expansion occurs.
 The softer wax is more easily moved by the

expanding investment.
→therefore, the selection of an appropriate material
for a pattern is very effective
2
Hygroscopic Setting Expansion
• Occurs when the gypsum
product is allowed to set under
or in contact with water
• Hygroscopic expansion is greater
in magnitude than normal setting Hygroscopic setting expansion
expansion (> 6 times).

• Can be obtained from
– Water immersion technique
– Water added Normal setting expansion
– Wet ring liner
28
Factors to Control Normal & Hygroscopic
Setting Expansion
1- Composition
Proportional to the silica (SiO2) content
The finer the particle size of the SiO2, the
greater the hygroscopic expansion.
2- Water: Powder Ratio

Higher W:P of the original investment water
mixture less hygroscopic setting expansion.
3- Spatulation
Insufficient spatulation (mixing time is reduced)
less hygroscopic expansion
4- Shelf life of the investment

Older investment lower hygroscopic expansion
5- Effect of time of Immersion

 The greatest amount of hygroscopic setting
expansion is observed if the immersion takes
place before the initial set
 Delayed immersion → decrease expansion
6- Confinement
 Both normal & hygroscopic setting expansion
are confined by the walls of the investment
container, or the walls of a wax pattern
7- Effect of Added Water

 Softens and expands wax pattern, allows
maximal hygroscopic expansion
 The magnitude of the expansion is in direct
proportion to the amount of water added
during the setting period until a maximum
expansion occurs. 30
Linear hygroscopic setting expansion
vs. Amount of water added
31
Thermal Expansion (1.0-1.5%)
Directly related to the amount of SiO2 present and
to the type of SiO2 employed (quartz vs.
crystobalite).
A considerable amount of quartz is necessary to
counterbalance the contraction of the gypsum
during heating.
The contraction of the gypsum is entirely
balanced when the quartz content is increased to
75%.
The maximum thermal expansion is attained at a
temperature < 700oC 32
Factors to Control Thermal Expansion
1- Effect of the water/ powder ratio
 Thermal expansion is related to the amount

of solids present.
 Therefore more water used in mixing the
investment, less thermal expansion achieved
during subsequent heating.
• Thinner mixed less thermal expansion
2 - Effect of chemical modifiers
The sufficient amount of SiO2 to prevent any
contraction during heating can weaken the
investment.
Chemical modifiers, e.g., sodium,
potassium and lithium chlorides, are added
to eliminates the contraction caused by the
gypsum and increases the expansion without
the presence of an excessive amount of SiO2.
TYPE 2
SILICA-BONDED INVESTMENT
1. Composition
2. Disadvantages
• Used with casting high-melting point alloys
(specifically: high-fusing base metal partial denture
alloys)
• This type derive its silica bond from :
– Ethyl silicate (an aqueous dispersion of colloidal
silica),or
– Sodium silicate
Composition
Powdered quartz or cristobalite bonded together
with silica gel
The binder solution (sol) is prepared by hydrolyzing
ethyl silicate in aqueous solution with dilute
hydrochloric acid
Other components including :
• Magnesium oxide(neutralize the acid and
strengthen the gel)
• Sometimes the addition of an accelerator, such
as ammonium chloride can be used for gel
formation (conversion of colloidal silica to gel)
• Industrial spirit (improve the mixing of ethyl
silicate and water)
• Mixing the components result in conversion of
‘sol’ nature to a ‘gel’ of silicic acid with the
liberation of ethyl alcohol as a byproduct as the
following :
Si(OC2H5)4+4H2O→Si(OH2)+4C2H5OH
• An elevated temperature (~100°C) used to drive
off both alcohol and the water
• The dryness results in small shrinkage (green
shrinkage) which usually compensated by the
mold enlargement before casting
Disadvantages
 The silica sol is unstable and needs to be freshly
prepared regularly
 The investment mould is very weak (weaker than
other investments) and has to be handled
extremely carefully
 The silica powder (usually cristobalite) has to have
a carefully-controlled particle size distribution to
improve the strength, but settling and segregation
occurs in transit due to vibration, and careful
remixing is essential before use
 Heating has to be done very carefully, firstly to
dry the gel, and then to avoid cracking on taking it
up to the casting temperature
 Prone to cracking because of the large expansion
on heating
 In addition, vacuum investing (ordinarily used to
eliminate air bubbles, especially around the
pattern) is not permissible because the ethanol
would readily boil under the reduced pressure
and disrupt the structure
TYPE 3
PHOSPHATE-BONDED INVESTMENT
1. Composition
2. Setting reaction
3. Properties
4. Setting & thermal expansion
5. Setting & working Time
Developed to be used with ;
– The high-melting Co-Cr alloys
– Metal-ceramic prostheses which necessitate the
use of higher-melting gold alloys that do not cast
well into gypsum investments
– Commercially pure titanium and titanium alloys
– Less expensive base metal alloys which require
phosphate investment
Composition
Powder : Containing silica, magnesium oxide and
ammonium phosphate
Liquid : Water or colloidal silica solution
Setting reaction
On mixing : A reaction between the phosphate and
oxide occurs to form magnesium ammonium
phosphate , as below
NH4.H2PO4 + MgO + 5H2O → Mg.NH4.PO4 + 6H2O
↓
Hydration & Crystallization
 This binds the silica together to form the set

investment mould
Properties
 Small expansion results from the outward thrust
of growing crystals (setting expansion)
 The material is also able to undergo hygroscopic
expansion if placed in contact with moisture
during setting (but this adversely affects the
unmixed material)
 The use of colloidal solution of silica instead of
water for mixing with the powder has dual effect :
1. Increasing the setting expansion
2. Strengthening the set material
 Heating the investment prior to casting results in
mould enlargement, which attributed to both
thermal expansion and inversion of silica
 One can conclude from the aforementioned that
the thermal expansion is greater for the colloidal
silica-mixed materials than for the water-mixed
materials
 At a temperature of about 300°C ammonia and
water are liberated by the reaction :
2(Mg.NH4.PO4.6H2O) → Mg2.P2O7 + 2NH3 + 13H2O
 Its worth mentioning that a significant increase in
the strength of the material at the casting
temperature occurs
 This is due to the fact that at the higher
temperature (of casting), some of the remaining
phosphate reacts with silica forming complex
silicophosphates
Setting and Thermal Expansion
 Increased expansion &
strength is obtained by
adding a combination of
different silica particle size
(using a colloidal silica
solution instead of water)
 Modified by
o altering the liquid: powder
ratio or
o decreasing the
concentration of the
special liquid. 38
Working and Setting Time
• Markedly affected by temperature
– The warmer the mix, the faster it sets.
• Increased mixing time and mixing efficiency result
in a faster set and a greater rise in temperature.
• In general, the more efficient the mixing, the
better the casting in terms of smoothness and
accuracy.
• Mechanical mixing under
vacuum is preferred.
Surface Quality of Cast Metals
(Phosphate-Bonded)
 Increasing the special liquid: water ratio used for
the mix markedly enhances casting surface
smoothness but can lead to oversized extracoronal
casting
However, the ability of these materials to improve
the smoothness is dependent on the alloy and
casting procedure employed
ADA Specification No. 42
 2 types of phosphate-bonded investment can be

identified as follows
 Type 1 : For inlays, crowns, and other fixed
restoration
Type 2 : For partial dentures and other cast,
removable restorations
Soldering Investment
• Are designed to have lower setting and thermal
expansions than casting investments
–So the assembled parts do not shift in position
during the setting and heating of the investment
• Do not have as fine a particle size as the casting
investment because the smoothness of the mass is
less important.

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INVESTMENT

Investment material : a molding material that

Divesting : process of removing investment from a

Burnout : process of heating an invested mold to

Direct wax technique: process whereby a wax pattern

Indirect wax technique : procedure in which a wax

• When this material is heated to the temperatures

 Usually, the wax pattern is eliminated from the

For gypsum-bonded casting investments : 2

 Type I: For casting inlays and crowns

 The softer wax is more easily moved by the

expansion (> 6 times).

– Wet ring liner

2- Water: Powder Ratio

4- Shelf life of the investment

5- Effect of time of Immersion

7- Effect of Added Water

1- Effect of the water/ powder ratio

 Thermal expansion is related to the amount

 This binds the silica together to form the set

 2 types of phosphate-bonded investment can be

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