Electrochemical characterisation of laser welding tracks

The advantages of laser welding are high process velocity, the possibility to joint alloys, which are not solderable, and the high bonding strength. During the laser welding process a high energy input in a very short time and a small area is performed, resulting in possible changes of structure and composition. Direct information of the change of the electrochemical behaviour of dental alloys after Laser welding procedure does not exist. The aim of this work was, therefore, to assess the electrochemical behaviour of laser welded joints in comparison with the bulk material using the mini-cell system. The logI vs. E curves performed on the bulk material show a complete change concerning the characteristic data, the shape and the position in comparison to such curves measured on the laser track. The characterisation of the electrochemical behaviour of laser welding tracks seems to be very easy by using the minicell system.