Dental Prostheses Materials: Corrosion Behavior of Co-Cr-W Alloys Processed by SLM Technique

Background/Objectives: Corrosion resistance of dental alloys, indicated by metal ion release, is a significant concern. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of various sandblasting methods on the corrosion resistance of Co-Cr-W alloy samples in an artificial saliva solution. Materials and Methods: Co-Cr-W samples, obtained by additive manufacturing (selective laser melting) and subjected to different processes, were evaluated using electrochemical corrosion tests on potentiostat equipment in Carter–Brugirard artificial saliva. All measurements were conducted at a temperature of 37 °C. The morphology of the samples was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy to highlight changes in roughness and the effects of the electrolyte solution on the surface of the samples. Results: The corrosion current density values decreased as surface processing increased, dropping from an average of 38.5 μA/cm2 in non-sandblasted samples (group A) to 0.74 μA/cm2 in samples sandblasted with both Al2O3 and glass particles (group C), while the corrosion rate of group A (434.8 mm/year) was significantly higher than that of group C (8.08 mm/year). Conclusions: The results demonstrated different behaviors between sandblasted and non-sandblasted samples, which could be attributed to surface morphology differences influencing the corrosion process.