How to differenciate a cobalt chrome alloy from a silver palladium alloy?

[dom12]

Hello,
I´m working for a recycling company, we work with dentists and dental labs. I have following problem: how do I recognize if an extracted dental crown is made out of silver/ palladium or cobalt and chrome? Are there some easy physical techniques? I would really be grateful if someone could help me.

[infectedd]

chemical spectroscopy is the best way but needs expensive equipment,

or you can measure densities of samples (with a precise density measuring tool). If you know approximate compositions of different alloys, you can differentiate them. Pd containing alloys should be much denser (or havier if the samples are of the same size).

dom12 wrote:

Hello,
I´m working for a recycling company, we work with dentists and dental labs. I have following problem: how do I recognize if an extracted dental crown is made out of silver/ palladium or cobalt and chrome? Are there some easy physical techniques? I would really be grateful if someone could help me.

[Blacksmith]

Try it with a file.