Electrochemical characterisation of dental alloys: its possibilities and limitations

Abstract

Dental alloys are metallic biomaterials which have a broad variation of composition compared to technical alloys. It is therefore in the interest of patients and technicians to conduct a good assessment of the electrochemical behaviour of dental alloys in order to collect information about their corrosion resistance. The purpose of this work was to demonstrate possibilities and limitations of two electrochemical techniques: the voltammetry of immobilised microparticles (ViMP) onto lead, and cyclic voltammetry measurements with the help of the mini-cell system (MCS). Based on fingerprints obtained from ViMP it was possible to analyse and differentiate the dental alloys. The results obtained by MCS were comparable with ViMP, but give a better understanding of the corrosion behaviour of the materials.

Electrochemical characterization of vascular bare-metal stents. A novel approach modifying the mini-cell system

“…A detailed description of the MCS and its previous use can be retrieved from the recent literature [29]. To downsize the measuring surface, and hence the working electrode (WE), a pipette tip with a diameter of 0.98 mm 2 was coupled to the MCS resulting in a reduction of approximately 80%.…”

Corrosion Damage Investigation of Silver-Soldered Stainless Steel Orthodontic Appliances Used in Vivo / Ocena Zniszczeń Korozyjnych Używanych In Vivo Stałych Aparatów Ortodontycznych O Połączeniach Lutowanych Na Bazie Srebra

“…The phenomenon of corrosion in the oral cavity is described as a complex electrolytic occurrence of total or partial degradation of an alloy, leading to the release of ions [7]. Corrosive dissolution can be caused by numerous factors, e.g., surface finish [8], internal stresses [9], pH [10], temperature [10][11] and composition of the immersion solution, soldering and thermal treatment [7]. Moreover, in the literature there is a lack of data on the actual performance of silver-soldered stainless steel joints in orthodontic applications, in terms of either oral health or mechanical strength [7].…”

Electrochemical Corrosion and Surface Analyses of a Ni‐Cr Alloy in Bleaching Agents

“…Dental alloys are expected to have certain properties, such as ease of manipulation, reliability of treatment, sufficient rigidity and durability for dental applications, biocompatibility, and good esthetics . These materials are subjected to variable oral conditions, such as temperature varying between 5°C and 55°C . Depending on food intake, the pH of saliva may vary from 2 to 11 .…”

“…Since saliva in the oral cavity is prone to be quite corrosive, dental metallic structures have to withstand the adverse chemical atmosphere . Because dental alloys serve for long periods in the mouth, where they need to resist these corrosive environments, it is important to know their biocompatibility and resistance to corrosion, which can be determined by the study of the electrochemical behavior of the material . The interface between biomaterial and tissue can be defined as an electrochemical system, supporting the implementation of electrochemical methods of evaluation of metal biomaterial surfaces …”