Inventors:
Arun Prasad - Cheshire CT
Gordon S. Cohen - Madison CT
Assignee:
Jeneric/Pentron, Inc. - Wallingford CT
International Classification:
C22C 500, B22F 312
Abstract:
Metal materials are sintered using microwave energy to provide high strength dental restorations. The metal materials used to manufacture the dental restorations herein are sintered to high density to provide high strength products that have a density close to the density achieved when the same materials are cast. A dense solid having a fine microstructure is achieved using microwave heating. Through the process described herein, higher heating rates may be achieved, reducing the time necessary for sintering the materials. The process is faster than conventional processes used in the manufacture of dental restorations, eliminates time-consuming steps typically involved in the lost wax process and provides materials with better grain-size control and properties. It is possible to produce high strength dental restorations at lower temperatures having high hardness and density and small grain size.