Enhanced wear, corrosion, and corrosive-wear resistance of the biocompatible Ti-based bulk metallic glass by oxidation treatment

In the present study, effects of the oxidation treatment on microstructures, wear, electrochemical, and corrosivewear performances of a TiZrCuPd bulk metallic glass (BMG) were investigated. After annealing at 300 degrees C and 400 degrees C, the Ti-based BMG showed Cu2O particles on the surface and ZrCu and Cu3Ti2 crystalline phases. The oxidation treatment improved the wear resistance of the Ti-based BMG under both dry- and wet-friction conditions. As the annealing temperature increased, the pitting-corrosion resistance of the Ti-based BMG in the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was enhanced, which was mainly due to the relative enrichment of corrosiveresistant elements Ti, Zr, and Pd in the alloy surface. The tribocorrosion result showed that the corrosion- and passivation-current-density of the oxidized-Ti-based BMG under the sliding condition decreased with the increase in the oxidation temperature, which contributed to the enhanced corrosive-wear resistance.

Automated summary

The study found that oxidation treatment can improve the wear resistance and corrosive-wear performance of Ti-based BMG, especially under wet-friction conditions. Increasing annealing temperature can enhance the resistance to pitting corrosion on the alloy surface.