Analysis of the Attachments Wear with Scanning Electron Microscopy

Objectives: The main objectives of this study were the verification and qualitative comparative analysis of superficial wear, resultant of attrition between different precision attachments and distinct metal alloys. Material and methods: Three types of attachments (ANC94 L 110 (R), Klinat L 90 (R) and ARS 88 (R)) with matrix fused in palladium- gold metal alloy (Degupal G (R)), two metal bases, chromo-cobalt (Ugirex C (R)) and chromo-nickel (Rexilium III (R)), where used. All attachments where submitted to 4400 insertion/disensertion cycles in a stress simulator, under continuous bi-distilled water jet. Results: Superficial electronic microscope (SEM) scanning analysis of the attachment surfaces, revealed signs of compression, scrapping and erosion, to some degree, in all observed samples. Signs of superficial wear were observed on all surfaces subject to attrition, independent of types of attachment and alloys utilized. As to the patrix, evident signs of superficial wear including scrapping, more or less deep grooving as well as material loss, where observed. Conclusions: No significant differences in degree of superficial wear were observed, either in relation to type of alloy or components of the three types of attachments under study.