Noble-metal dental alloy and dental method

Claim 2

A castable dental alloy suitable for bonding with dental porcelain and having a stable yellow-gold color which is retained after porcelain is fired on the cast alloy, comprising about 83-87 gold, 7-12% platinum, 1.5-3% Rhodium, less than about 1.0% copper, the ratio of rhodium to copper in the alloy being in the range of 3 to 15, and further elements for grain refining and formation of bonding oxides.

Claim 3

A castable dental alloy suitable for bonding with dental porcelain and having a stable yellow-gold color which is retained after porcelain is fired on the cast alloy, consisting essentially of: Gold -- 83 to 87 percent, Platinum -- 7 to 12 percent, Rhodium -- 1.5 to 3 percent, Copper -- Less than 1 percent, Silver -- Less than 4 percent, Indium -- Less than 2 percent, Tin -- Less than 1.5 percent, Iridium -- Less than 1 percent, Iron -- Less than 0.5 percent, Ruthenium -- Less than 1 percent, Rhenium -- Less than 1 percent, the ratio of rhodium to copper in the alloy being in a range of 3 to 15.

Claim 4

A castable dental alloy suitable for bonding with dental porcelain and having a stable yellow-gold color which is retained after porcelain is fired on the cast alloy, consisting essentially of: Gold -- 83 to 87 percent, Platinum -- 7 to 12 percent, Rhodium -- 1.5 to 3 percent, Copper -- Less than 1 percent, Silver -- Less than 4 percent, Indium -- Less than 2 percent, Tin -- Less than 1.5 percent, Iridium -- Less than 1 percent, Iron -- Less than 0.5 percent, Ruthenium -- Less than 1 percent, Rhenium -- Less than 1 percent, the ratio of rhodium to copper in the alloy being in a range of 3 to 15.

Claim 5

The alloy defined in claim 2 formed as a cast body for intra-oral installation, and further comprising a porcelain jacket fired on the body.

Claim 6

The alloy defined in claim 2 wherein the constituent elements consist essentially of: Gold -- 85.5 percent, Platinum -- 9.5 percent, Rhodium -- 2.0 percent, Copper -- 0.5 percent, Silver -- 1.3 percent, Indium -- 0.5 percent, Tin -- 0.5 percent, Iridium -- 0.2 percent.

Claim 7

The alloy of claim 4 formed as a cast body for intra-oral installation, and further comprising a porcelain jacket fired on the body.

Claim 10

The method defined in claim 6 wherein the alloy consists essentially of: Gold -- 83 to 87 percent, Platinum -- 7 to 12 percent, Rhodium -- 1.5 to 3 percent, Copper -- Less than 1 percent, Silver -- Less than 4 percent, Indium -- Less than 2 percent, Tin -- Less than 1.5 percent, Iridium -- Less than 1 percent, Iron -- Less than 0.5 percent, Ruthenium -- Less than 1 percent, Rhenium -- Less than 1 percent.

Claim 11

The method defined in claim 6 wherein the alloy consists essentially of: Gold -- 85.5 percent, Platinum -- 9.5 percent, Rhodium -- 2.0 percent, Copper -- 0.5 percent, Silver -- 1.3 percent, Indium -- 0.5 percent, Tin -- 0.5 percent, Iridium -- 0.2 percent.