Corrosion of the component phases presents in high copper dental amalgams. Application of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and electrochemical noise analysis

摘要

The corrosion resistance of three of the constituent phases in high copper dental amalgams has been investigated by electrochemical methods in 0.9% NaCl solution. Polarization curves show corrosion potentials most positive for γ_1-Ag_2Hg_3, followed by Ag-Cu, and γ-Ag_3Sn in agreement with the order of corrosion resistance deduced from the corrosion currents. Complex plane impedance plots at the open circuit potential showed distorted semicircles with dif-fusional components at low frequency for Ag-Hg and Ag-Cu, while for γ-Ag_3Sn a layer of corrosion products is formed, partially or completely covering the surface of the electrode. Impedance and noise spectra have been compared in the frequency domain, and show good agreement.