Process: Dental Amalgam Alloy.

Uses: In dentistry for restoration of worn-out tooth by filling the tooth cavity using the amalgamated alloy.

Salient Features: The alloy is made by melting and casting the constituents in an electric furnace. The ingot is then homogenised for a long period. Homogenised ingot is then subjected to lathe cut in order to get fine powder (-325 mesh). The powder is heat-treated for reliving internal stresses. The resultant powder is now ready for use.

Environmental Considerations: Constituent elements do not cause any pollution in any stage of processing.

Scale of Development: 5 kg ingot has been cast and processed for powder production.

Commercialisation Status: The technology has been released to three enterpreneurs.

Major Raw Materials: Silver 69-70%, tin 25-27%, copper 5-5.5% and zinc less than 1 %.

Major Plant Equipment/Pachinery:

(i) Electric melting furnace (1200°C) -10 kg capacity
(ii) Electric muffle furnace (1000°C)-1 cu ft capacity
(iii) Lathe machine
(iv) Sieve set.

Techno-Economics: The annual consumption of this alloy is about 8-10 tons. The process is neither labour nor capital intensive. For an established plant, ROI is about 65% and break-even point about 35%.

Technology Package Includes

(i) Process know-how
(ii) Details of equipment
(iii) Plant lay-out
(iv) Quality assurance methods. Assistance can be provided at the time of production or trials on separate terms and conditions (Negotiable).

Released Through: NRDC.

Contact:
Director
National Metallurgical Laboratory
Jamshedpur - 831007, India