[Corrosion of burnished or polished amalgam samples, using loss of mass after immersion in 1% NaCl solution]

This research evaluates the corrosion as expressed by the mass loss of experimental samples of both (conventional amalgam alloys (New True, Dentalloy and Velvalloy) and copper-rich alloys (Dispersalloy, Rezzizt II, Novaloy and Novaloy Plus) after immersion in a 1% NaCl solution. The sequence of treatments was: a) carved and burnished and b) carved, burnished and polished under uniform and controlled conditions the samples were weighed and alternatively submitted to immersion and finally brushed and weighed again after period of 30, 60 and 90 days. The polished samples exhibited a mass loss significantly lower than the burnished ones. The mass loss was statistically significant for the three experimental periods of time and presented a continuous mode. Differences among the alloys were detected either as to composition or surface treatment adapted.