Effects of Sn, Ga, and In additives on properties of Ag-Pd-Au-Cu alloy for ultra-low fusing ceramics

Nine 35% Ag-30% Pd-20% Au-15% Cu alloys containing 2, 4 and 6 mass% of Sn, Ga or In as an additive metal were experimentally prepared to investigate the effects of different additives and their content on the physical and mechanical properties as well as the bond with a ultra-low fusing ceramic. Both the different additives and their content or either of these two factors significantly influenced most of the evaluated properties except for the area fraction of the retained ceramic. Based on the evaluated properties three experimental alloys (2% Sn-added alloy, 4% Ga-added alloy and 2% In-added alloy) can be recommended as a suitable alloy for ceramic-metal restorations using ultra-low fusing ceramics.