Some Effects on the Phases of Amalgam Induced by Corrosion

Abstract

"Aged" amalgam restorations were analyzed using X-ray spectrometry with the SEM and the electron microprobe. The results indicated that the corrosion process penetrates throughout the amalgam mass. The tin of the γ2 phase consistently was associated with nonmetals, particularly chlorine, in areas of high corrosion. Other nonmetals were associated with tin within the interfacial corrosion layer and, to a lesser degree, within the amalgam bulk.