Corrosion of base metal alloys in vitro.

Corrosion of base metal alloys was studied by placing the alloys in artificial saliva for 2 months and then determining the concentration of metal ions in the saliva. The distribution of the attack on the surface was examined. The results indicated that the amount of metal ions in the artificial saliva could be related to the Cr content of the alloy. When the Cr content exceeded 16% very little corrosion was observed. The corrosive attack was located at Cr depleted areas, grain boundaries. The Cr depletion probably resulted from coring during solidification.