Microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance of Ti-20Zr alloy in undoped and NaF doped artificial saliva

The corrosion behavior of a new, advanced Ti-20Zr alloy with alpha+beta microstructure (determined by optical microscopy, XRD, and SEM) and very good mechanical properties (obtained from the stress-strain curve) is studied in this paper. The composition of the alloy native passive film was determined from a XPS analysis and the long-term corrosion resistance in undoped and doped states with 0.05M NaF artificial Carter-Brugirard saliva of different pH values, simulating the severe functional conditions of a dental implant, was analyzed by electrochemical methods. This alloy possesses an advantageous balance between good mechanical resistance and plasticity and Young's modulus and exhibits more favorable electrochemical parameters and corrosion resistance than CP Ti due to its more resistant passive layer containing Ti2O3, TiO2, and ZrO2 protective oxides. After 1000 h of immersion in saliva, the protective properties of the alloy were enhanced due to the deposited surface layer that incorporated protective phosphates (shown by SEM and XPS).