Corrosion properties of soldered joints. Part I: Electrochemical action of dental solder and dental nickel-chromium alloy.

The corrosion properties of contact between six Ni-Cr alloys and two dental solders were evaluated. Ni-Cr alloys with low Cr content coupled with silver solder induced continuous galvanic current, whereas Ni-Cr alloys with high Cr and some Mo content coupled with silver or gold solder induced galvanic current for a short time. Six Ni-Cr alloys were divided into two groups according to the dissolution of Ni, one with low resistance and the other with high resistance. The initial equilibrium was induced between high resistance Ni-Cr alloys and both solders by less current density, which implies a smaller degree of corrosive current than that in low-resistance alloys. Corrosion was observed in the silver solder coupled with high-resistance Ni-Cr alloy, but was not found in the gold solder coupled with both alloys. In soldering Ni-Cr alloy, it is better to use a gold solder and a high-resistance Ni-Cr alloy for corrosion resistance.