What is the main characteristic of Gamma-2 in amalgam?

Gamma-2 is a phase in dental amalgam that primarily consists of mercury and tin. The main characteristic of Gamma-2 is its susceptibility to corrosion. This phase tends to degrade more easily in the oral environment due to the presence of moisture and other factors such as temperature fluctuations. Over time, the corrosion of Gamma-2 contributes to the overall degradation of the amalgam restoration, which can lead to the release of byproducts and a loss of mechanical integrity.

In contrast, the other characteristics mentioned do not apply to Gamma-2. For instance, while some phases of amalgam may exhibit strength, Gamma-2 does not because of its corrosion-prone nature. Additionally, the density of amalgam is influenced more by other components than by Gamma-2 specifically, and the mercury content in amalgam formulations is not characterized as "low” in this context, as it is designed to provide a specific consistency and workability for mixing.