Cobalt-chromium (CoCr) powder is the base-metal feedstock most dental laboratories and milling/printing centers use for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) of crown copings, bridge frameworks and removable partial-denture (RPD) frameworks. Two chemistry families are offered: CoCrMo (cobalt–chromium–molybdenum) and CoCrW (cobalt–chromium–tungsten, usually with molybdenum). Which one fits depends on the dental indication, the ceramic system, the printer’s validated material and the dental-material standard the finished product must meet — not on the family label.
This page is for dental labs, dental-device manufacturers and distributors who need a dental metal powder supplier to quote a defined CoCr powder. It explains what to specify, which standards apply at which level, and what a powder supplier can and cannot document.
- Grade data and inquiry: CoCrMo powder · CoCrW / CoCrMoW dental powder
- Industrial wear and orthopedic-route CoCr: CoCrMo / CoCrW powder overview
Short answer: which cobalt chrome powder for dental LPBF?
| Dental indication | Usual first candidate | Why | What must be confirmed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crown copings and bridge frameworks | CoCrW (CoCrMoW) dental powder | An alloy declared for ceramic veneering must be thermally compatible with the chosen ceramic | Ceramic system, bond/compatibility testing per ISO 9693, ISO 22674 type |
| Removable partial-denture frameworks, clasps, bars | CoCrW or CoCrMo | High proof strength and stiffness for thin clasps and connectors | ISO 22674 type for the indication, clasp adjustment and fit |
| Full-contour metal crowns or substructures without ceramic | CoCrMo or CoCrW | Either chemistry can be used if the material is declared for that use | Material declaration, polishing route, ISO 22674 type |
| Implant-supported bars and superstructures | Project-specific | Fit, passive seating and interface machining dominate | Device manufacturer’s specification and validation |
| Implants and bone-contact parts | Not a dental-restoration powder decision | Governed by implant standards such as ASTM F75 / F3213 and device regulation | Device-level qualification by the manufacturer |
If the printer manufacturer or the lab’s validated workflow already names a material, match that chemistry first. Switching from one CoCr chemistry to another — even within the same family — changes the parameter set, thermal expansion and the ceramic compatibility evidence.
CoCrMo vs CoCrW: what differs in the powder
Both families are cobalt-based with roughly a quarter to a third chromium for passivation. The difference is the strengthening addition and the target use.
| Feature | CoCrMo powder (catalog grade) | CoCrW / CoCrMoW dental powder (catalog grade) |
|---|---|---|
| Cr, wt.% | 27.0–30.0 | 24.5–28.5 |
| Mo, wt.% | 5.0–7.0 | 4.5–6.5 |
| W, wt.% | — | 4.0–6.0 |
| C, wt.% | ≤0.35 | ≤0.35 |
| Typical PSD offered | 15–45 µm, 15–53 µm; coarser 45–106 µm cut on request | 15–45 µm, 15–53 µm (LPBF) |
| Main dental use | Frameworks, substructures, development work | PFM copings, bridges, RPD frameworks |
The values above are typical partner-plant datasheet limits shown on the CoCrMo and CoCrW grade pages; the quoted lot COA governs. The CoCrMo range overlaps the cobalt-28 chromium-6 molybdenum (UNS R30075) family covered for surgical-implant castings by ASTM F75-23 and for powder bed fusion parts by ASTM F3213-17(2025). Those are implant and finished-part specifications; they are not dental-restoration standards and do not by themselves qualify a dental product.
Commercial dental CoCr alloys vary widely. In one peer-reviewed comparison, the LPBF dental powder tested was a CoCrW alloy with about 28% Cr and 9% W, while cast and milled alloys in the same study used other formulations (Kim et al., Materials 2016). Always compare the full chemistry table, not just “CoCr”.
Which standards apply, and at what level
ISO 22674 — the dental metallic-material standard. ISO 22674:2022 specifies requirements and test methods for metallic materials used to make dental restorations and appliances, with or without a ceramic veneer, plus packaging, marking and instructions for use. ISO lists the 2022 edition as current and under revision. It classifies materials into types by mechanical properties. As summarized by Kim et al. (2016), Type 4 requires a 0.2% proof strength above 360 MPa and Type 5 above 500 MPa, with elongation above 2% and Young’s modulus above 150 GPa for Type 5; that paper relates these types to uses such as removable partial dentures, clasps, thin veneered crowns and wide-span bridges. Confirm the current limits in the purchased standard before writing a specification.
ISO 9693 — metal-ceramic compatibility. ISO 9693:2026 (Edition 4, July 2026, replacing ISO 9693:2019) specifies tests for the thermomechanical compatibility between a veneering ceramic and a metallic or ceramic substructure. ISO states that conformity applies only to materials in combination — a powder alone cannot “comply with ISO 9693”. For PFM work, ask which ceramic systems the alloy has been tested with.
Device regulation. Dental restorations are medical devices in most markets. The legal manufacturer (lab, CAD/CAM center or alloy brand owner) is responsible for the material declaration, biocompatibility evidence and conformity route. A powder supplier provides chemistry, PSD, lot traceability and handling documents; it does not transfer device approval. The FDA’s technical considerations for additively manufactured medical devices is a useful outline of what the device maker must control.
What LPBF changes compared with casting
Published work shows that the manufacturing route changes CoCr microstructure and properties. In the Kim et al. (2016) study, LPBF dumbbell specimens (built at 0° on a dental LPBF system with 30 µm layers, no post-build heat treatment) gave a mean yield strength of 580 ± 50 MPa and elongation of 32 ± 2%, compared with 540 ± 20 MPa and 10 ± 2% for the cast alloy in that study. The authors also reported higher yield strength and lower elongation at other build angles. These are results for specific commercial alloys, one machine and one specimen geometry — useful for orientation, not a property promise for a supplied powder lot.
For a dental production route, the practical consequences are:
- Build orientation and supports affect strength, fit and finishing time; validate the orientation used for real frameworks.
- Stress relief / heat treatment is usually part of the validated route before removal from the plate; follow the printer or alloy manufacturer’s instruction for use.
- Ceramic firing cycles act as additional thermal exposures for PFM copings; validate with the actual ceramic.
- Fit and margin are finished-part outcomes. Powder flow or apparent density cannot prove crown margin, framework seating or clasp retention.
Dental CoCr powder specification
| Field | What to define |
|---|---|
| Alloy identity | CoCrMo or CoCrW, full chemistry table with limits, and any declared Ni, Be and Cd content |
| ISO 22674 basis | Intended type and whether the material is for use with or without ceramic veneer |
| Powder | Gas-atomized route, PSD and measurement method (e.g. laser diffraction), oxygen/nitrogen, morphology |
| Machine fit | Printer family and layer thickness; the PSD cut must match the recoater and validated parameters |
| Lot control | Lot definition, COA content, sieving and blending rules, virgin vs reused powder policy |
| Packaging | Sealed foil bags or drums, net weight per unit, lot labeling |
| Documents | Lot COA, PSD report, SDS, TDS; SEM morphology if agreed |
Kim et al. (2016) note that beryllium-containing Ni-Cr dental alloys are no longer recommended because of allergic reactions and potential carcinogenic effects, and that CoCr is the most common base-metal alternative for nickel-allergic patients. Ask the supplier to report Ni and Be on the COA rather than assuming they are absent. The metal powder COA guide covers how to read lot certificates.
When cobalt chrome is not the right dental route
- Titanium may be preferred where the restoration, implant system or patient requirement points to Ti. Compare grades in the titanium powder guide and Grade 23 vs Grade 5 comparison.
- Milling of CoCr blanks or presintered soft CoCr can suit labs without an LPBF system; Kim et al. reported milled/post-sintered CoCr properties close to the LPBF group in their study.
- All-ceramic restorations (zirconia, lithium disilicate) avoid metal altogether where the indication allows.
RFQ for dental cobalt chrome powder
Send: CoCrMo or CoCrW, the full chemistry or the reference alloy you are replacing, ISO 22674 type and veneered/non-veneered use, printer model and layer thickness, PSD cut, quantity (sample, trial lot or recurring supply), packaging unit, destination country and required documents. Paid samples start from 1 kg so the lab can run its own parameter, fit and ceramic trials before a production order. State whether the order supports development, routine lab production or a regulated product line; final device acceptance stays with the legal manufacturer.