COMPARISON OF THE CORROSION PROPERTIES OF CoCrMo DENTAL ALLOYS IN ARTIFICIAL SALIVA

Abstract

CoCrMo alloys are known for their biocompatible properties, which, together with their favorable mechanical properties, mean they can be efficiently used in dentistry. With the development of selective laser melting for the fabrication of 3D-printed objects, interest in the corrosion properties of this alloy has risen in the field of prosthodontics. In the study, CoCrMoW dental alloys were studied in artificial saliva at body temperature, i.e., 37 °C. Different forms of CoCrMoW alloy were selected: a reference sample, i.e., original material as received from the supplier, a cast sample acquired from an ordinary procedure in a dental laboratory, and two 3D-printed samples made from CoCrMoW powder using the selective laser melting (SLM) method. Electrochemical, spectroscopic and hardness measurements were conducted. It was shown that the reference and cast samples have similar microstructural and electrochemical properties, while the electrochemical properties of the 3D-printed samples differ, most probably due to the effect of the higher micro porosity and chemical composition of the alloys.