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Why amalgam is brittle?

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Akam ahz

Full Member
5+ Year Member
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Hi,

Of course most of you are aware of the amalgam restoration material.

I know that amalgam is a brittle material, which means that it cannot withstand tensile stress.

But what makes amalgam brittle? Is it because of the presence of mercury or the molecules resulted from the reaction between mercury and other component of the amalgam powder?