1. Classification of Amalgam Alloy
1.1. Lathe cut
1.1.1. High copper
1.1.2. Low copper
1.2. Admix
1.3. Spherical
1.3.1. High copper
1.3.2. Low copper
2. Common Causes of Failure
2.1. Inadequate retention
2.2. Insufficient bulk for strength
2.3. Non-removal of unsupported enamel
2.4. Incomplete caries removal
2.5. Inadequate condensation
2.6. Recurrent caries due to microleakage
3. Common reasons for amalgam replacement
3.1. Recurrent Caries
3.2. Tooth fracture
3.3. Gross amalgam fracture
3.4. Marginal breakdown
4. Composition
4.1. Silver Alloy
4.1.1. Silver (Ag)
4.1.1.1. increases strength
4.1.1.2. Increases setting expansion
4.1.1.3. Reduces setting time
4.1.1.4. Resists tarnish and corrosion
4.1.1.5. Decreases flow
4.1.2. Tin (Sn)
4.1.2.1. Increases setting time
4.1.2.2. Reduces
4.1.2.2.1. Hardness
4.1.2.2.2. Strength
4.1.2.2.3. Setting expansion
4.1.3. Copper (Cu)
4.1.3.1. Increases Strength, expansion and hardness. Decreases creep
4.1.3.2. Reduces
4.1.3.2.1. Tarnish and Corrosion
4.1.3.2.2. Creep
4.1.3.3. Trengthening effect on the set Amalgam
4.1.3.4. Helps in uniform comminution of the Alloy
4.1.4. Zinc (Zn)
4.1.4.1. Scavages the available Oxygen
4.1.4.2. It gives rise to delayed expansion if contaminated with moisture.
4.1.5. Palladium
4.1.5.1. Improves the corrosion resistance and mechanical properties
4.1.6. Indium
4.1.6.1. Decreases the evaporation of mercury and the amount of mercury required to wet the alloy particles
4.2. Mercury (Hg)
4.2.1. Wets alloy particles. Decreases strength in excessive amount