In vitro study on the corrosion behavior of three commercial Ag-Pd-Cu-Au alloys in Ringer's and 0.1%Na2S solutions.

The corrosion resistance of three commercial Ag-Pd-Cu-Au alloys was estimated in Ringer's and 0.1% Na2S solutions by electrochemical techniques and surface analyses. In Ringer's solution, the three alloys showed high corrosion resistance and there was no significant difference in the anodic polarization characteristics of the three alloys. In the 0.1% Na2S solution, the Alloy A which had the lowest noble metal content (Au + Pd) exhibited the highest anodic reactivity with the largest amount of corrosion product on the alloy surface. It was determined that the Ag-rich phase of Ag-Pd-Cu-Au alloy was preferentially attacked to form Ag2S corrosion product. The polarization resistance data showed that the corrosion rate for Alloy A in 0.1% Na2S solution was determined to be 500 times higher than that in Ringer's solution. The corrosion rate of the alloy in the freely corroded condition can be estimated quantitatively and precisely by measuring the polarization resistance.