In vitro corrosion behavior and microstructure examination of a gallium-based restorative.
Concerns of mercury toxicity have led to the development of gallium-based restorative materials to replace dental amalgam. A new gallium-based dental restorative, Galloy, was compared with a high-copper amalgam, Permite, for anodic polarization behavior in deoxygenated Ringer's solution and by immersion testing in normal Ringer's solution at 37 degrees C. Corrosion products were analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and transmission electron diffraction. The data from both sources were consistent with the presence of alpha-Ga2O3 and SnO2 as the primary corrosion products of Galloy. Anodic polarization behavior of Galloy- and Permite-coupled specimens suggests that coupling Galloy with the more noble Permite amalgam may cause accelerated electrochemical corrosion and that Galloy is more corrosion prone than Permite.
DeSchepper
E J
EJ
Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis 46202, USA.
Oshida
Y
Y
Moore
B K
BK
Cook
N B
NB
Eggertson
H
H
D003343:Corrosion; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry*; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000737:chemistry; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005708:Gallium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010087:Oxides / Q000032:analysis; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D003722:Dental Alloys; C100747:Galloy; D010087:Oxides; D017971:Tin Compounds; D003723:Dental Amalgam; C092423:Permite C; D005708:Gallium