EVALUATION OF SOLDERED CONNECTORS OF 2 BASE-METAL CERAMIC ALLOYS

Soldered connectors for two base metal ceramic alloys (nickel-chromium and cobalt-chromium) were compared by use of four different technique s: (1) infrared preceramic soldering, (2) gas and oxygen preceramic so ldering, (3) porcelain furnace postsoldering under vacuum, and (4) por celain furnace postsoldering without vacuum. A control group was estab lished with solid cast specimens of each alloy. No statistically signi ficant difference was noted between infrared and torch preceramic sold ering techniques for either of the two alloys. However, the joints pos tsoldered under vacuum were significantly superior to postsoldered con nectors without vacuum (p < 0.0001). No significant differences were o bserved among techniques 1, 2, and 3, although the three groups were s ubstantially superior to technique 4 for both alloys (p = 0.05). The c ontrol group for both alloys was appreciably stronger than the soldere d groups (p < 0.0001), and the nickel-chromium samples within the cont rol group were significantly stronger than the Co-Cr samples.