Surface characterization of amalgam made with Hg-In liquid alloy.
When amalgam was triturated with Hg-In liquid alloys instead of pure mercury, the resultant amalgams released a significantly smaller amount of mercury vapor during setting. To understand the mechanisms responsible for the drastic decrease in mercury evaporation from the In-containing amalgam, we used Auger Electron Spectroscopy to examine surface oxide films on amalgams made with Hg-10 wt% In or pure mercury. The surface of the In-containing amalgam was rapidly covered with both indium and tin oxide films. Greater amounts of oxygen were found on the gamma 1 Ag-Hg matrix in the In-containing amalgam than in the amalgam without indium. The rapid formation of the oxide film contributes to a reduction in the mercury release from the In-containing amalgam by forming an effective barrier to evaporation.
Nakajima
H
H
Department of Biomaterials Science, Baylor College of Dentistry-Texas A&M University System, Dallas.
Akaiwa
Y
Y
Hashimoto
H
H
Ferracane
J L
JL
Okabe
T
T
D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000737:chemistry*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis / Q000379:methods; D007204:Indium / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D008422:Materials Testing; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012834:Silver / Q000032:analysis; D013499:Surface Properties; D014001:Tin / Q000032:analysis; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D014835:Volatilization
D017971:Tin Compounds; D007204:Indium; D012834:Silver; C047711:indium oxide; D014001:Tin; D003300:Copper; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D008628:Mercury; C045358:stannic oxide