Building direction dependence of corrosion resistance property of Ti-6Al-4V alloy fabricated by electron beam melting

Electrochemical measurements in 1 M HCl solution were performed to investigate the corrosion behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V alloy fabricated by electron beam melting (EBM) with cylindrical axes deviating from the building direction by 0 degrees, 45 degrees, 55 degrees, and 90 degrees. Microstructure characterization before and after the tests was carried out by using a variety of methods The results suggested that the corrosion resistance of EBM alloy in 1 M HCl solution increased slightly in the order of 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 55 degrees, and 0 degrees. Such difference can be ascribed to the grain boundary density and beta phase constitution, which varied with the building direction.