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.