[The study on mechanical properties of laser welds of titanium in dentistry].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the mechanical properties of laser welds of titanium under different conditions.


METHODS
Home-made Nd: YAG laser welding apparatus was used to weld TA2 and Ti-6Al-4V under different laser energy. Instron universal testing machine was adopted to measure the tensile load, 0.2% yield load and absolute elongation. The fractured surface was observed under SEM, Vickers microhardness values at welding area were measured and the mechanical properties after immersion in artificial saliva were detected.


RESULTS
The mechanical strength of laser welds were related with material, voltage and the combination of them. At 700V-750V, there was no significant difference between tensile load of TA2 laser welds and that of the original material. For Ti-6Al-4V, At 750V. The mechanical strength of laser welds before and after immersion in artificial saliva made no statistic difference.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that the heat-affected zone of laser welding might be small and the corrosion resistance in artificial saliva might be high. The mechanical strength of titanium laser weld might meet the clinical demands at 19-20J/P.
Lu
J
J
College of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032.
Guo
T
T
Wang
B
B
D003343:Corrosion; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards*; D012994:Dental Soldering / Q000379:methods*; D004548:Elasticity; D006244:Hardness; D007834:Lasers; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012464:Saliva, Artificial; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
D003722:Dental Alloys; D003764:Dental Materials; D012464:Saliva, Artificial; D014025:Titanium