Copper and silver corrosion activity in crown and bridge alloys

Effects of decreased alloy nobility are measured with respect to copper and silver corrosion activity. A potentiodynamic technique is developed for this analysis. It is shown that cooper and silver have characteristic potentials for which individual current densities are maximal. Identification of characteristic potentials allows the definite analysis of 11 commercial crown and bridge alloys for copper and silver corrosion. It is shown that microstructure, as well as alloy chemistry, plays a major role in determining corrosion resistance.