The chloride corrosion behaviour of four orthodontic wires.

Potentiodynamic cyclic polarization of four orthodontic alloys (wires), namely Permachrome, Elgiloy, a beta-titanium alloy and Nitinol in a 1% NaCl solution within -500 mV and +300 mV (SCE) indicated the first three alloys to be passive whereas breakdown of passivity was observed on Nitinol. The SEM examination of the pre- and post-polarized alloy surfaces provided evidence which was consistent with the electrochemical measurements, in that the first three alloys exhibited no appreciable corrosion damage whereas pitting corrosion was observed on Nitinol. The results obtained from X-ray analysis of the pitted surface indicated that this pitting could be due to selective dissolution of nickel from Nitinol.