AN ELECTROCHEMICAL STUDY ON SURFACE FINISH OF DENTAL AMALGAM

아말감의 표면연마에 관한 전기화학적 연구

The purpose of this study was to observe characteristic properties of amalgam through the polarization curves and SEM images from 4 type amalgams (Amalcap, Shofu spherical. Dispersalloy and Tytin) with 3 different surface finish procedures (polishing, burnishing and carving) by using the potentiostats (EG & GPARC) and SEM (Jeol JSM-35). After each amalgam alloy and Hg was triturated as the direction of the manufacturer by means of mechanical amalgamator (Samki), the triturated mass was inserted into the cylndrical metal mold which was 12 mm in diameter and 10 mm in height and was pressed with $100kg/cm^2$. 4 specimens of each type amalgam were burnished with egg burnisher and another 4 specimens of each type amalgam were carved with Hollenback carver. Above 8 specimens and remaining untreated 4 specimens were stored at room temperature for about 7 days. Untreated 4 specimens of each type amalgam were polished with abrasive papers (Deer) from #400 to #1200 and finally on the polishing cloth with $0.5{\mu}m$ and $0.06{\mu}m$ $Al_2O_3 $ powder suspended water. Anodic polarization measurements was employed to compare the corrosion behaviours of the amalgams in 0.9% saline solution at $37^{\circ}C$. The open circuit potential was determined after 30 minutes immersion of specimen in electrolyte. The scan rate was 1 mV/sec and the surface area of amalgam exposed to the solution was $0.64cm^2$ for each specimen. All the potentials reported are with respect to a saturated calomel electrode (SCE). SEM images of each specimen were taken after + 800 mV (SCE) polarization. The results were as follows: 1. The corrosion potential of high copper amalgam was more anodic than that of low copper amalgam. 2. The polished amalgam were more resistant to corrosion than any other burnished and carved amalgam. 3. In the case of polishing, current density of high copper amalgam was lower than that of low copper amalgam.