Biomaterial Database

The effect of anodic polarization on the tensile strength of dental amalgam. 1976

C P Chen, and E H Greener

The effect of corrosion upon dental amalgam was studied by measuring the effect of anodic polarization on its tensile strength. A conventional tensile testing method using dumb-bell shaped specimens deformed along the long axis was employed. The results showed a significant reduction (27%) in the mean tensile strength, due to the anodic polarization of conventional amalgam, whereas the strength of the high Cu-containing Dispersalloy amalgam was unaffected by polarization. When the diametral tensile strengths of polarized and unpolarized conventional amalgam and Dispersalloy specimens were compared (ADA Specification No. 1), no significant difference in strength was observed. These results indicate that the anodic corrosion of gamma2 phase network in the conventional amalgam fillings can be directly attributed to a reduction of tensile strength which would be manifested clinically as marginal breakdown. It appears also that the diametral tensile test is not sufficiently discriminating to allow for an in vitro simulation of clinical properties.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003300	Copper	A heavy metal trace element with the atomic symbol Cu, atomic number 29, and atomic weight 63.55.	Copper-63,Copper 63
D003343	Corrosion	The gradual destruction of a metal or alloy due to oxidation or action of a chemical agent. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Corrosions
D003723	Dental Amalgam	An alloy used in restorative dentistry that contains mercury, silver, tin, copper, and possibly zinc.	Amalgam, Dental,Amalgams, Dental,Dental Amalgams
D004563	Electrochemistry	The study of chemical changes resulting from electrical action and electrical activity resulting from chemical changes.	Electrochemistries
D006047	Gold Alloys	Alloys that contain a high percentage of gold. They are used in restorative or prosthetic dentistry.	Gold Alloy,Alloy, Gold,Alloys, Gold
D012834	Silver	An element with the atomic symbol Ag, atomic number 47, and atomic weight 107.87. It is a soft metal that is used medically in surgical instruments, dental prostheses, and alloys. Long-continued use of silver salts can lead to a form of poisoning known as ARGYRIA.
D013314	Stress, Mechanical	A purely physical condition which exists within any material because of strain or deformation by external forces or by non-uniform thermal expansion; expressed quantitatively in units of force per unit area.	Mechanical Stress,Mechanical Stresses,Stresses, Mechanical
D013499	Surface Properties	Characteristics or attributes of the outer boundaries of objects, including molecules.	Properties, Surface,Property, Surface,Surface Property
D014001	Tin	A trace element that is required in bone formation. It has the atomic symbol Sn, atomic number 50, and atomic weight 118.71.	Stannum