Effects of coupling methods on galvanic corrosion behavior of commercially pure titanium with dental precious alloys

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Al-Ali, S. | Oshida, Y.^; | Andres, C.J. | Barco, M.T. | Brown, D.T. | Hovijitra, S. | Ito, M. | Nagasawa, S. | Yoshida, T.

Affiliations: Prosthodontics Specialist, Prosthodontics Department, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, UAE | Dental Materials Division, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN, USA | Prosthodontics Division, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN, USA | Department of Dental Materials, Matsumoto Dental University, Shiojiri Nagano, Japan

Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr. Yoshiki Oshida, MS PhD, Professor, Dental Materials, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Indiana University School of Dentistry, 1121 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5186, USA. Tel.: +1 317 274 3725; Fax: +1 317 278 7462; E-mail: yoshida@iupui.edu.

Abstract: Background: When a dissimilar couple is exposed to corrosive environment, it will normally exhibit a galvanic corrosion. The galvanic corrosion might be influenced by various factors, including type and concentration of electrolyte, surface area ratio between anode and cathode, type of coupling material, and coupling manner. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the galvanic corrosion behavior of commercially pure titanium when coupled with type IV Au alloy, Au–Ag–Pt alloy, and Ag–Au–Pd alloy by different coupling methods. Materials and methods: Couples were prepared by a laser welding or a mechanical adhering method. Electrochemical corrosion studies were conducted in a Ringer's solution at a scanning rate of 0.1 mV/sec in a range from −250 mV to +250 mV with respect to EOCP. Corrosion parameters (EOCP, ICORR, ECORR) were obtained. Results: It was found that (i) there was a significant difference between LWC and AJC for three couples (p<0.05), (ii) the crevice line caused all three couples more corrosive than weld joint line, (iii) for both joint, it was found that type (IV) Au alloy exhibited discoloration to some extent. Conclusions: It is concluded that among the three couples with two different coupling methods, Ti/Ag–Au–Pd couple exhibited best corrosion resistance in a room temperature Ringer's solution.

Keywords: Galvanic corrosion, crevice corrosion, coupling mode, titanium, dental precious alloys, discoloration

Journal: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 307-316, 2005