Solid solubility of tin in silver-mercury gamma 1 in dental amalgams

The solid solubility of Sn in gamma 1 has been studied by examining a series of gamma 1 samples containing 0.25-2.0 wt% Sn by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. It has been observed that the addition of Sn to gamma 1 leads to the formation of mainly an intergranular Sn-Hg compound. On the basis of this observation it has been concluded that the solubility of Sn in gamma 1 is virtually nil.