Conditions for attainment of thermodynamic equilibrium for the Ag/Hg system

Following a previous study on the influence of the size of silver particles used in dental alloys on the conditions for the attainment of thermodynamic equilibrium, results are presented on the influence of the particle shape factor. Calorimetric results obtained using different particle forms are compared with those derived from a mathematical model in which it is considered that silver particles can assume a spherical or cylindrical (flat or narrow) shape. It appears that the thermal effects obtained by computation are closer to those obtained by calorimetric experimentation when the sphere of the model is transformed into either a disc or a rod.