Evaluation of Surface Roughness of a Ni-Cr Alloy Treated With the Nd/YAG Laser and the Sandblast Technique

This study was to assess the effect of various output parameters of laser treatment on roughening the surface of a commercial nickel-chromium (Ni-Cr) alloy as compared to the sandblasting technique.

Ninety-six disk-shaped (5 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness) specimens in total were made of a nickel-chromium alloy by using the lost-wax technique. Air-abrasion surface treatment was used for sixteen specimens. Specimens were divided into six groups; one of them was sandblasted and the rest were irradiated by different Nd:YAG laser output parameters as follows: Group A: energy: 122 mJ, frequency: 20 Hz, irradiation duration: 20 seconds, spot size: 1.5 mm; Group B: energy: 122 mJ, frequency: 20 Hz, irradiation duration: 20 seconds, spot size: 3.5 mm; Group C: energy: 122 mJ, frequency: 10 Hz, irradiation duration: 20 seconds, spot size: 3.5 mm; Group D: energy: 102 mJ, frequency: 10 Hz, irradiation duration: 20 seconds, spot size: 3 mm; Group E: energy: 102 mJ, frequency: 20 Hz, irradiation duration: 20 seconds, spot size: 3 mm. The surface roughness of all surface-treated specimens was evaluated by using a profilometer, and their average roughness (Ra) was calculated. The average value of each group was analyzed by t test and one-way ANOVA (SPSS 17).

Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed between the study groups. The highest Ra was achieved for the sandblasted group. The Ra value in group C was the highest value among the laser-etched groups.

Based on the results, Nd:YAG laser irradiation increases surface roughness, but it is not as efficient as the sandblasting method as a gold standard.