MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF TITANIUM CONNECTORS

The tensile mechanical properties of welded titanium joints were studi ed, and intact titanium was used as controls. Welded joints were fabri cated with either a stereographic laser-welding technique or a gas tun gsten are welding technique. The effect of heat treatment following a simulated porcelain application was also investigated. Heat-treated la ser welds had significantly lower ultimate tensile strengths. Heat tre atment had no effect on the modulus of elasticity or elongation, but g enerally significantly decreased the yield strength of the titanium sp ecimens. The gas tungsten are welding specimens had significantly high er yield strengths and elastic moduli than the other two groups. The e longation of the control specimens was significantly greater than the elongation of the gas tungsten are welding specimens, which was in tur n significantly higher than that of the laser-welded specimens.