Effect of the electrical discharge machining on Ti6Al4V corrosion behaviour in simulated body fluid

Titanium alloys, such as Ti6Al4V, are widely employed in the biomedical industry for implant applications due to their favourable properties. However, these alloys can experience long-term corrosion in the presence of bodily fluids, which is a critical concern for implants as it affects their timespan. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the corrosion resistance of Ti6Al4V in body fluid. Highly desirable electrical discharge machining (EDM) techniques used for Ti6Al4V sample preparation with three different conditions (oil, deionized water, and hydroxyapatite mixed in deionized water). Corrosion was assessed using electrochemical analyses, with microstructural analysis. Results indicated that the samples produced using water and oil had the best and lowest corrosion resistance, respectively. Protective oxide layer formed during the EDM in water while heterogeneous surface was produced for EDM in oil. The increase in capacitance leads to the thickening of the oxide layer, thereby enhancing the corrosion resistance.

Automated summary

Titanium alloys, such as Ti6Al4V, are widely used in the biomedical industry for implants. However, they can corrode in the presence of bodily fluids, affecting their lifespan. This study examined the corrosion resistance of Ti6Al4V in body fluid using various EDM techniques. The results showed that samples prepared with water had the best corrosion resistance, while those prepared with oil had the lowest. The thickness of the oxide layer influenced the corrosion resistance.