In vivo and in vitro corrosion products of dental amalgam

Corrosion products of amalgam produced in Ringer's solution were compared with products formed in vivo using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray microanalysis, and potentiostatic anodic polarization. The corrosion products in an old amalgam were probably a mixture of tin-oxide and tin oxychloride. In vitro corrosion of fresh amalgam resulted in the buildup of similar products.