Effect of Recasting on Physical Properties of Base Metal Alloys: An In Vitro Study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to establish the outcome of recasting on tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and hardness of Nickel–chromium alloys. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty wax patterns were fabricated, using the lost wax technique, the measurements of which were standardized. They were categorized into five groups of ten each. Group I included samples casted with new alloy alone. Group II samples consisted of 75% new alloy and 25% once casted alloy. Group III was casted with 50% of each. Group IV with 25% new metal and 75% previous alloy and samples of Group V samples were casted with once casted alloy alone. Modulus of elasticity and tensile strength were measured by universal testing machine, whereas hardness using microhardness tester. The values were statistically analysed. IBM Corp. Released 2011. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0. IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA. for Windows software was used for analysis. RESULTS: We found a slight variation in mean tensile strength and modulus of elasticity, which was statistically insignificant variation among the groups. However, there was a significant difference in mean hardness between Groups III, IV, and V. CONCLUSION: It is prudent to use pure alloy alone for casting. However, in view of environment and economical factors, addition of <50% reused alloy to pure alloy is satisfactory clinically.