Amalgamable composition and method of production

An amalgam formed from the amalgamation of from 30 to 56% of mercury and from 44 to 70% of a multi-component composition which is devoid of cut particles;

• said multi-component composition, consisting essentially of:
• (a) from 30 to 90%, by weight, of a first alloy powder component containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper;
• (b) from 10 to 70%, by weight, of a second alloy powder component containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper;
• and
• (c) up to 15% by weight, of a third component consisting essentially of a member selected from the group consisting of silver and alloy powder containing at least 80% by weight, of silver,
• wherein said first component is atomized alloy powder, wherein said alloy powder of said first component consists essentially of particles which are substantially spherical in shape and wherein said second component is atomized alloy powder which has been mechanically worked to increase the surface area to volume ratio of its particles, the surface area to volume ratio of the particles of said alloy of said second component being greater than the surface area to volume ratio of the particles of said alloy of said first component said amalgam having compressive strength, creep and condensation resistance comparable or better to that formed from the amalgamation with mercury of an identical multi-component composition comprised of both spherical and cut particles.

A multi-component composition suitable for amalgamation with mercury to form a dental material, said composition devoid of cut particles and, which upon amalgamation with mercury produces a dental amalgam having compressive strength, creep and condensation resistance comparable or better to that formed from the amalgamation of an identical multi-component composition comprised of both spherical and cut particles, said composition consisting essentially of:

• (a) from 30 to 90%, by weight, of a first alloy powder
• component containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper;
• (b) from 5 to 65% by weight, of a second alloy powder component containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper;
• (c) up to 15% by weight, of a third component consisting essentially of a member selected from the group consisting of silver and alloy powder containing at least 80%, by weight, of silver;
• and
• (d) from 5 to 65% by weight of a fourth component, an alloy powder containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper,
• wherein said first component is atomized alloy powder, wherein said alloy powder of said first component consists essentially of particles which are substantially spherical in shape, wherein said second component is atomized alloy powder which has been mechanically worked to increase the surface area to volume ratio of its particles, the surface area to volume ratio of the particles of said alloy of said second component being greater than the surface area to volume ratio of the particles of said alloy of said first component and wherein said fourth component is atomized alloy powder, wherein said alloy powder of said fourth component consists essentially of particles which are as atomized substantially irregular in shape, the average length to average width ratio of said irregular particles being at least 1.5.

An amalgam formed from the amalgamation of from 30 to 56% of mercury and from 44 to 70% of a multi-component composition which is devoid of cut particles;

• said multi-component composition, consisting essentially of:
• (a) from 30 to 90%, by weight, of a first alloy powder component containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper;
• (b) from 5 to 65%, by weight, of a second alloy powder component containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper;
• (c) up to 15%, by weight, of a third component consisting essentially of a member selected from the group consisting of silver and alloy powder containing at least 80%, by weight, of silver;
• and
• (d) from 5 to 65%, by weight, of a fourth component, an alloy powder containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper,
• wherein said first component is atomized alloy powder, wherein said alloy powder of said first component consists essentially of particles which are substantially spherical in shape, wherein said second component is atomized alloy powder which has been mechanically worked to increase the surface area to volume ratio of its particles, the surface area to volume ratio of the particles of said alloy of said second component being greater than the surface area to volume ratio of the particles of said alloy of said first component and wherein said fourth component is atomized alloy powder, wherein said alloy powder of said fourth component consists essentially of particles which are as atomized substantially irregular in shape, the average length to average width ratio of said irregular particles being at least 1.5 said amalgam having compressive strength, creep and condensation resistance comparable or better to that formed from the amalgamation with mercury of an identical multi-component composition comprised of both spherical and cut particles.

A multi-component composition suitable for amalgamation with mercury to form a dental material, consisting essentially of:

• (a) from 30 to 90%, by weight, of a first alloy powder component containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper;
• (b) from 10 to 70%, by weight, of a second alloy powder component containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper;
• and
• (c) from 2 to 12%, by weight, of a third component consisting essentially of a member selected from the group consisting of silver and alloy powder containing at least 80%, by weight, of silver,
• wherein said first component is atomized alloy powder, wherein said alloy powder of said first component consists essentially of particles which are substantially spherical in shape and wherein said second component is atomized alloy powder which has been mechanically worked to increase the surface area to volume ratio of its particles, the surface area to volume ratio of the particles of said alloy of said second component being greater than the surface area to volume ratio of the particles of said alloy of said first component.

An amalgam formed from 30 to 56% of mercury and from 44 to 70% of a multi-component composition;

• said multi-component composition, consisting essentially of:
• (a) from 30 to 90% by weight, of a first alloy powder component containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper;
• (b) from 10 to 70%, by weight, of a second alloy powder component containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper;
• and
• (c) from 2 to 12%, by weight, of a third component consisting essentially of a member selected from the group consisting of silver and alloy powder containing at least 80%, by weight of silver,
• wherein said first component is atomized alloy powder, wherein said alloy powder of said first component consists essentially of particles which are substantially spherical in shape and wherein said second component is atomized alloy powder which has been mechanically worked to increase the surface area to volume ratio of its particles, the surface area to volume ratio of the particles of said alloy of said second component being greater than the surface area to volume ratio of the particles of said alloy of said first component.

A multi-component composition suitable for amalgamation with mercury to form a dental material, consisting essentially of:

• (a) from 30 to 90%, by weight, of a first alloy powder component containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper;
• (b) from 5 to 65%, by weight, of a second alloy powder component containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper;
• (c) from 2 to 12%, by weight, of a third component consisting essentially of a member selected from the group consisting of silver and alloy powder containing at least 80%, by weight, of silver;
• and
• (d) from 5 to 65%, by weight, of a fourth component, an alloy powder containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper,
• wherein said first component is atomized alloy powder, wherein said alloy powder of said first component consists essentially of particles which are substantially spherical in shape, wherein said second component is atomized alloy powder which has been mechanically worked to increase the surface area to volume ratio of its particles, the surface area to volume ratio of the particles of said alloy of said second component being greater than the surface area to volume ratio of the particles of said alloy of said first component and wherein said fourth component is atomized alloy powder, wherein said alloy powder of said fourth component consists essentially of particles which are as atomized substantially irregular in shape, the average length to average width ratio of said irregular particles being at least 1.5.

An amalgam formed from 30 to 56% of mercury and from 44 to 70% of a multi-component composition;

• said multi-component composition, consisting essentially of:
• (a) from 30 to 90%, by weight, of a first alloy powder component containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper;
• (b) from 5 to 65%, by weight, of a second alloy powder component containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper;
• (c) from 2 to 12%, by weight, of a third component consisting essentially of a member selected from the group consisting of silver and alloy powder containing at least 80%, by weight, of silver;
• and
• (d) from 5 to 65%, by weight, of a fourth component, an alloy powder containing, by weight, at least 30% silver, at least 20% tin and at least 10% copper,
• wherein said first component is atomized alloy powder, wherein said alloy powder of said first component consists essentially of particles which are substantially spherical in shape, wherein said second component is atomized alloy powder which has been mechanically worked to increase the surface area to volume ratio of its particles, the surface area to volume ratio of the particles of said alloy of said second component being greater than the surface area to volume ratio of the particles of said alloy of said first component and wherein said fourth component is atomized alloy powder, wherein said alloy powder of said fourth component consists essentially of particles which are as atomized substantially irregular in shape, the average length to average width ratio of said irregular particles being at least 1.5.