The aim of this study is the consolidation of Cobalt-Chromium (CoCr) alloy powder using the additive manufacturing - selective laser melting (SLM) and the investment casting techniques. The research of this study has been applied to their biomaterial applied to development of prosthesis and dental implants. The gas atomized powder are spherical (mean diameter equal to 42,74 μm) and was analyzed by their physical and chemical properties. The microstructure of the powder and specimens was evaluated using optical microscope (OM) and scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersed X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The mechanical properties were evaluated of standard samples using a tensile (yield strength, maximum tensile, rupture tensile and elongation), three point bending (transverse rupture strength) and micro hardness tests. The mechanical results indicate higher values for the SLM than casting specimens. The micrographs revealed a characteristic morphology of laser been used in the SLM technique and the dendrites in the casting technique. The microstructure of samples made by SLM is thinner than the samples obtained in the cast.

This chapter seeks to compare the properties of samples manufactured by additive manufacturing (AM) by the selective laser melting (SLM) technology and compare with the precision casting (PC) processes using the Co-Cr-Mo (ASTM F75) alloy to manufacture of dental prosthesis. This AM process can be manufactured three-dimensional models by means of a laser beam that completely melts particles of powder deposited layer by layer. However, it is still relevant to know the properties of: performance, dimensional, mechanical and microstructural of this laser melting process and compare with a convencional process. The results of mechanical evaluation showed that the SLM technique provides superior mechanical properties compared to those obtained by the PC technique. It is possible to verify that the consolidation by SLM technique results in lower presence of porosity than PC technique. In addition, PC samples presented a gross dendritic microstructure of casting process. Microstructural analysis of SLM samples results in a characteristic morphology of layer manufacturing with ultrafine grains and a high chemical homogeneity. In this way, the development of the present study evidenced to improve the manufacture of customized components (copings) using the SLM technology.

Advances in processes using the powder metallurgy techniques are making this technology competitive compared to the other traditional manufacturing processes, especially in medicine area. The additive rapid prototyping technique – selective laser melting (SLM) was applied in a biomaterial of CoCrMoFe alloy (ASTM F75), to study the mechanical properties and microstructural characterization in comparison between the conventional technique – casting. The gas atomized powder was investigated by their physical (as apparent density, bulk density and flow rate) and the chemical properties. The powder was analyzed using scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersed X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray fluorescence. Specimens of standard samples were manufactured using these techniques to evaluate the mechanical properties as uniaxial tensile (yield strength, rupture tensile and elongation), transverse rupture strength and the micro hardness. The mechanical properties showed higher values in the SLM specimens than the casting specimens. Before the mechanical tests the specimens were examined using optical microscope (OM) and SEM-EDS. The micrographs revealed a microstructure with finer morphology in the SLM technique and the dendrites in the casting technique.