Liberation of copper, zinc, and cadmium from different amalgams

Release of copper, zinc, and cadmium from six different amalgams in 0.9% NaCl solution has been registered during a 4-week period. The products showed widely different corrosion behavior. A dispersion-type amalgam released the smallest amounts of copper but the largest amounts of zinc. A product containing indium had a high rate of copper dissolution. Cadmium was liberated to a great extent from a copper amalgam. The rate of corrosion varied greatly for the different products during the time of the experiment. The liberation of copper and zinc was inversely correlated.