A comparative study of the electrochemical corrosion behaviour of dental amalgams

Abstract

The electrochemical corrosion behaviour of sixteen currently marketed amalgams for dental fillings was studied in vitro under experimental conditions closely resembling those of clinical application. Depending upon the type of amalgam and the treatment of the filling the electrochemical corrosion currents varied over several orders of magnitude; their change as a function of time was also very different. Suggestions are made for a stability rating of the products based on the results obtained.

The corrosion of dental amalgam in artificial salivas: an electrochemical impedance study

“…Some comparisons of the corrosion rates of different amalgams have been made in the literature using mainly open circuit potential measurements, polarisation curves and cyclic voltammetry [14][15][16]. The effect of the bathing solution on corrosion rate has not been extensively investigated and, with the rare exception of [17], has only recently begun to be studied [18,19].…”

A comparative study of the corrosion stability of dental amalgams with electrochemical impedance measurements

“…We have reported earlier about the corrosion stability of a selection of amalgams (both of high‐copper dispersant [HCD] and high‐copper single composition [HCSC] alloy type [ 4 ] ) in artificial saliva. [ 5,6 ] Linear scan voltammetry has been applied to some amalgams. [ 7 ] Phase formation and conversion in high‐copper amalgams have been discussed elsewhere.…”

The Influence of Artificial Body Fluids on Metallic Corrosion

“…A few corrosion studies of dental amalgams [4,5] and stainless steels [6] in similar media have been already done, but without any comparative study.…”

“…These effects, which have not been investigated, are particularly important since the solutions are often treated as equivalent media in biocorrosion studies, such as of dental amalgams. Body fluids, [1], are aqueous solutions of organic and inorganic substances including mainly the cations Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , and Mg 2+ , the anions Cl -, HCO 3 -, H 2 PO 4 -, SO 4 2-and those of organic acids. Saliva is an important biological fluid as it participates in the first step of digestion; it is a very complex mixture of substances with a pH between 6.4 and 7.0, with 1 -1.5 litres being produced daily.…”