Precious Metal Dental Gold Type II SOFT
Hardness band
ASTM ADA Spec No.5 Type II · ISO 1562 Type 2
SOFT = softened
Pick when maximum ductility is needed for margin burnishing, adjustment or soldering.
Values for the SOFT condition
Other Dental Gold Type II tempers and conditions
Dental Gold Type II is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at Dental Gold Type II.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SOFTThis page Softened | Pick when maximum ductility is needed for margin burnishing, adjustment or soldering. | 185 | 350 | 36 | 90 HB | 14 % IACS |
AS-CASTDefault bench-cooled lost-wax casting | Standard condition of a finished inlay/onlay straight from investment casting and devesting. | 200 | 380 | 32 | 100 HB | 15 % IACS |
Hardened | Use where a Type II restoration must carry higher occlusal stress or resist wear at contacts; ductility drops. | 280 | 450 | 18 | 128 HB | 16 % IACS |
What is Dental Gold Type II SOFT?
Dental Gold Type II SOFT is Dental Gold Type II heat treated to SOFT — pick when maximum ductility is needed for margin burnishing, adjustment or soldering. Dental Gold Type II SOFT has a yield strength of 185 MPa (26.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) — weaker than 56% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 36% and the elastic modulus is 93 GPa (13.5 Msi). Dental Gold Type II SOFT has a density of 15.6 g/cm³ (0.564 lb/in³), heavier than 79% of precious metal grades. It melts at 910°C (1,670 °F). AS-CAST is the default condition FabDigit quotes; SOFT is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 98/100, better than 98% of precious metal grades
- Easy to machine — 60/100, better than 97% of precious metal grades
- Forms and bends easily — 95/100, better than 91% of precious metal grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 36%, better than 88% of precious metal grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 97/100, better than 88% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 13,000 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 81% of precious metal grades
- Heavy — 15.6 g/cm³ (0.564 lb/in³), worse than 79% of precious metal grades
Dental Gold Type II SOFT properties
Typical room-temperature values for Dental Gold Type II SOFT; 19 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Dental Gold Type II reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
Dental Gold Type II SOFT has a density of 15.6 g/cm³ (0.564 lb/in³), heavier than 79% of precious metal grades. It melts at 910°C (1,670 °F).
Mechanical13
Dental Gold Type II SOFT has a yield strength of 185 MPa (26.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) — weaker than 56% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 36% and the elastic modulus is 93 GPa (13.5 Msi).
Thermal6
Dental Gold Type II SOFT is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 95 W/m·K (54.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 51% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 14.5 µm/m·K (8.06 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Dental Gold Type II SOFT conducts electricity at 14 % IACS, worse than 70% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (97/100), better than 88% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Dental Gold Type II SOFT 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%.
Manufacturability8
Dental Gold Type II SOFT's machinability is good (60/100, better than 97% of precious metal grades); weldability very good (78/100); formability excellent (95/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Dental Gold Type II SOFT
Is Dental Gold Type II easy to machine?
Very soft and gummy — use sharp carbide or diamond tooling, high speed, light feed and collect all swarf for refining.
Can Dental Gold Type II be welded?
Laser welds cleanly without filler; torch soldering with matched dental gold solders below the solidus is routine.
Can Dental Gold Type II be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent lost-wax investment castability with gypsum-bonded investment; margins are readily burnished and cold worked in the soft condition.
What surface finishes work on Dental Gold Type II?
Polishes to a permanent mirror finish with rouge; no plating, passivation or anodising needed.
Dental Gold Type II 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.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| AuAu + Pt-group ≥ 78 % for ADA Type II | 72 – 80 | 75.5 |
| Ag | 8 – 15 | 12 |
| Pd | 0 – 3 | 1.5 |
| Pt | 0 – 4 | 1 |
| Zndeoxidiser, improves castability | 0 – 2 | 1 |
| Irgrain refiner, optional | 0 – 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Cubalance, controls age-hardening | ≥ 5 (balance) | — |
Dental Gold Type II SOFT — frequently asked
What is Dental Gold Type II SOFT used for?
Dental Gold Type II SOFT is typically used for dental inlays, onlays and moderate-stress restorations. In short: mid-hardness dental gold; near-inert in oral service; castable and burnishable.
What is the yield strength of Dental Gold Type II SOFT?
Dental Gold Type II SOFT has a typical yield strength of 185 MPa (26.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) — weaker than 56% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Dental Gold Type II SOFT easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 97% of precious metal grades). Very soft and gummy — use sharp carbide or diamond tooling, high speed, light feed and collect all swarf for refining.
Can Dental Gold Type II SOFT be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (78/100). Laser welds cleanly without filler; torch soldering with matched dental gold solders below the solidus is routine.
What surface finishes work on Dental Gold Type II SOFT?
Polishes to a permanent mirror finish with rouge; no plating, passivation or anodising needed.
Can Dental Gold Type II SOFT be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent lost-wax investment castability with gypsum-bonded investment; margins are readily burnished and cold worked in the soft condition.
What is the maximum service temperature of Dental Gold Type II SOFT?
Dental Gold Type II SOFT is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °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 II AS-CAST and Dental Gold Type II Hard?
AS-CAST is the default condition — standard condition of a finished inlay/onlay straight from investment casting and devesting. Hard: use where a Type II restoration must carry higher occlusal stress or resist wear at contacts; ductility drops. Yield strength is 200 MPa in AS-CAST versus 280 MPa in Hard.
Sources
- ISO 1562 Dentistry — Casting gold alloys — ISO (2004)
- ANSI/ADA Specification No. 5 — Dental Casting Alloys — American Dental Association (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (Precious Metals) — ASM International (1990)
- Phillips' Science of Dental Materials — Elsevier (2012)
- Dental casting gold alloy datasheets (Type II, ~75 % Au) — Precious-metal dental alloy producers (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.