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Precious Metal Dental Gold Type I-AC (Spheroidize annealed)

Heat-treated state · default condition

ASTM ADA Spec No.5 Type I · ISO 1562 Type 1

Standard condition of a lost-wax cast inlay; adequate strength with full burnishability.

High cost $$$$

Values for the AC condition

Other Dental Gold Type I tempers and conditions

Dental Gold Type I is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at Dental Gold Type I.

Compare all 3 conditionsHide
Condition · open for datasheetBest forYield MPaTensile MPaElong. %HardnessConductivity
Softened / homogenised
Pick when maximum ductility for margin burnishing and stress-free adaptation is wanted.802303552 HB24 % IACS
ACDefaultThis page
Spheroidize annealed
Standard condition of a lost-wax cast inlay; adequate strength with full burnishability.902503060 HB25 % IACS
Cold worked
Condition of the burnished margin or of drawn wire/foil forms; strength raised at the cost of ductility.180300890 HB24 % IACS

What is Dental Gold Type I-AC?

Dental Gold Type I-AC is Dental Gold Type I heat treated to AC — standard condition of a lost-wax cast inlay; adequate strength with full burnishability. Dental Gold Type I-AC has a yield strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) — weaker than 86% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 85 GPa (12.3 Msi). Dental Gold Type I-AC has a density of 17.2 g/cm³ (0.621 lb/in³), heavier than 86% of precious metal grades. It melts at 935°C (1,715 °F).

Advantages

  • Polishes to a fine finish — 98/100, better than 98% of precious metal grades
  • Forms and bends easily — 96/100, better than 95% of precious metal grades
  • Good corrosion resistance — 96/100, better than 85% of precious metal grades

Limitations

  • Low strength — 90 MPa (13.1 ksi), worse than 86% of precious metal grades
  • Heavy — 17.2 g/cm³ (0.621 lb/in³), worse than 86% of precious metal grades
  • High embodied carbon — 13,000 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 81% of precious metal grades

Dental Gold Type I-AC properties

Typical room-temperature values for Dental Gold Type I-AC; 18 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Dental Gold Type I reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among precious metal grades.

Physical3

Dental Gold Type I-AC has a density of 17.2 g/cm³ (0.621 lb/in³), heavier than 86% of precious metal grades. It melts at 935°C (1,715 °F).

Density17.2 g/cm³0.62 lb/in³
Melting Point (Solidus)935°C1,715 °F
Liquidus Temperature960°C1,760 °F

Mechanical12

Dental Gold Type I-AC has a yield strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) — weaker than 86% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 85 GPa (12.3 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus85 GPa12.3 Msi
Shear Modulus31 GPa4.5 Msi
Bulk Modulus145 GPa21 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.37
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)250 MPa36.3 ksi
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)90 MPa13.1 ksi
Elongation at Break30%
Reduction in Area45%
Shear Strength170 MPa24.7 ksi
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)90 MPa13.1 ksi
Hardness, Brinell60 HB
Hardness, Vickers65 HV

Thermal6

Dental Gold Type I-AC is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 115 W/m·K (66.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 61% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 16 µm/m·K (8.89 µin/in·°F).

Thermal Conductivity115 W/m·K66.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity150 J/kg·K0.04 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)16 µm/m·K8.9 µin/in·°F
Latent Heat of Fusion68 J/g29.2 BTU/lb
Max Service Temperature (continuous)300°C572 °F
Min Service Temperature-200°C-328 °F

Electrical3

Dental Gold Type I-AC conducts electricity at 25 % IACS, better than 64% of precious metal grades.

Electrical Conductivity25 % IACS
Electrical Resistivity6.9×10⁻⁸ Ω·m2.72 µΩ·in
Magnetic Responsenon-magnetic

Chemical & Environmental3

Corrosion resistance is excellent (96/100), better than 85% of precious metal grades.

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)0.28 V
Corrosion ResistanceExcellent96/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryImmune to oral fluids, sulphides and dilute acids; attacked only by aqua regia, free halogens (chlorine/bromine), hot cyanide solutions and molten alkalis. Mercury amalgamation is a hazard.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of Dental Gold Type I-AC takes about 190,000 MJ of energy and emits 13,000 kg of CO₂ — more than 81% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)190,000 MJ/kg8.17×10⁷ BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)13,000 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water250,000 L/kg29,957 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content60%

Manufacturability8

Dental Gold Type I-AC's machinability is fair (40/100, worse than 60% of precious metal grades); weldability good (60/100); formability excellent (96/100).

MachinabilityFair40/100
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)40%
WeldabilityGood60/100
Formability (cold)Excellent96/100
CastabilityExcellent96/100
Brazeability / SolderabilityExcellent95/100
PolishabilityExcellent98/100
Anodizing Responsen/a — noble gold alloy, no anodic oxide; finished by polishing only

Common Calculations5

Specific Strength (UTS / density)calculated15 kN·m/kg
Specific Stiffness (E / density)calculated4.9 MN·m/kg
Modulus of Resiliencecalculated48 kJ/m³
Thermal Diffusivitycalculated44.6 mm²/s
Thermal Shock Resistance Indexcalculated21

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.

Working with Dental Gold Type I-AC

Is Dental Gold Type I easy to machine?

Very gummy and smearing — use sharp, high-rake carbide or HSS burs, light cuts, high speed, and capture all swarf for refining.

Can Dental Gold Type I be welded?

Laser or micro-plasma spot welding works well in dental labs; conventional fusion welding is rare — gold-based solders are the norm.

Can Dental Gold Type I be formed, bent or molded?

Cast by lost-wax investment casting at roughly 1000–1050 °C into a gypsum-bonded investment; wrought forms cold-work readily with intermediate anneals near 700 °C.

What surface finishes work on Dental Gold Type I?

Polishes to a mirror finish with rouge and does not need plating or coating; margins are closed by burnishing rather than by machining.

Dental Gold Type I chemical composition (wt %)

Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)Nominal
AuADA Spec No.5 Type I: gold + PGM ≥ 83 %83 – 9086
Ag3 – 128.5
Culow Cu — little order-hardening response2 – 64
Pd0 – 1.50.5
Pt0 – 10.3
Zndeoxidiser, improves casting fluidity0 – 1.50.5
Irgrain refiner0 – 0.010.01

Dental Gold Type I-AC — frequently asked

What is Dental Gold Type I-AC used for?

Dental Gold Type I-AC is typically used for dental inlays, low-stress single restorations, non-load-bearing occlusal inlays, burnishable cast margins and cast restorations for small cavity preparations. In short: softest dental casting gold; best burnishable margins; low-stress restorations only.

What is the yield strength of Dental Gold Type I-AC?

Dental Gold Type I-AC has a typical yield strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) — weaker than 86% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.

Is Dental Gold Type I-AC easy to machine?

Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, worse than 60% of precious metal grades). Very gummy and smearing — use sharp, high-rake carbide or HSS burs, light cuts, high speed, and capture all swarf for refining.

Can Dental Gold Type I-AC be welded?

Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). Laser or micro-plasma spot welding works well in dental labs; conventional fusion welding is rare — gold-based solders are the norm.

What surface finishes work on Dental Gold Type I-AC?

Polishes to a mirror finish with rouge and does not need plating or coating; margins are closed by burnishing rather than by machining.

Can Dental Gold Type I-AC be formed, bent or molded?

Cast by lost-wax investment casting at roughly 1000–1050 °C into a gypsum-bonded investment; wrought forms cold-work readily with intermediate anneals near 700 °C.

What is the maximum service temperature of Dental Gold Type I-AC?

Dental Gold Type I-AC is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.

What is the difference between Dental Gold Type I-AC and Dental Gold Type I-CW?

AC is the default condition — standard condition of a lost-wax cast inlay; adequate strength with full burnishability. CW: condition of the burnished margin or of drawn wire/foil forms; strength raised at the cost of ductility. Yield strength is 90 MPa in AC versus 180 MPa in CW.

Sources

  1. ISO 1562 Dentistry — Casting gold alloys — ISO (2004)
  2. ANSI/ADA Specification No. 5 — Dental Casting Alloys — American Dental Association (2018)
  3. Craig's Restorative Dental Materials — Elsevier (2019)
  4. ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties of Nonferrous Alloys (Precious Metals) — ASM International (1990)
  5. Dental casting gold alloy datasheets (refiners/alloy makers) — various (2023)

Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.