Corrosion evaluation of gold-based dental alloys

Three commercial gold-based dental alloys and three constant-nobility ternary alloys (Au-Ag-Cu) were evaluated for corrosion using a quantitative test battery. Integration of the current density, in a de-aerated solution of 1% NaCl along the approximate potential range found in the mouth (-300 mV to +300 mV vs. SCE), yields a quantitative rank ordering of the test alloys. The results are combined with prior findings on other commercial alloys to demonstrate the interaction of nobility and microstructure. Nobility determines the overall corrosion resistance for gold-based alloys. However, because of mutual insolubility, alloying with copper induces silver segregation, resulting in a higher corrosion rate at a given nobility. Thus, microstructure has an influence on corrosion, but heat treatments are largely ineffective in altering the basic corrosion characteristics. The test techniques, in combination with tarnish evaluations, provide a quantitative battery for alloy evaluation. The results indicate the combinations of nobility, microstructure, and environment most likely to avoid corrosion difficulties.