Influence of pH on the Corrosion Behaviour of Laser-Processed Co-Cr Dental Alloys in Artificial Saliva

Abstract

The materials used in dental restorations must present, aside from a mechanically stable and fracture resistant structure and a high level of biocompatibility, a strong resistance towards corrosion over a wide range of pH values. This research focuses on the relation between two different CAD-manufacturing procedures of base Co-Cr alloys used in dental restorations regarding the assessment of their corrosion resistance in artificial saliva at various pH levels. We comparatively appraised the corrosion behaviour of two cobalt-chromium dental alloys manufactured by two alternative computer assisted technologies namely selective laser melting (SLM) and selective laser sintering (SLS). Several electroanalytical techniques like linear polarization, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy have been employed to study the processes taking place at the metal/electrolyte interface. Preliminary results reveal that computer assisted processing technologies could represent an alternative when considering the manufacture of complex restorations.