Corrosion behavior of β titanium alloys for biomedical applications

The corrosion behavior of biocompatible beta titanium alloys Ti-13Mo-7Zr-3Fe (TMZF) and Ti-35Nb-7Zr-5Ta (TiOsteum) was investigated in 0.9% NaCl and 5 M HCl solutions. Extra-low-interstitial Ti-6Al-4V, which is also a candidate material for biomedical applications, was studied for comparison. The as-received TiOsteum and TMZF alloys exhibited single-phase beta and alpha + beta microstructures, respectively, so the latter was also investigated in the solutionized and quenched condition. In 0.9% NaCl solution, all three alloys exhibited spontaneous passivity and very low corrosion rates. Ti-6Al-4V and the as-received TMZF exhibited active-passive transitions in 5 M HCI whereas TiOsteum and TMZF in the metastable beta condition showed spontaneous passivity. Potentiodynamic polarization tests, weight loss and immersion tests revealed that TiOsteum exhibited the best corrosion resistance in 5 M HCl. Analysis of surfaces of the corroded specimens indicated that the alpha/beta phase boundaries were preferential sites for corrosion in Ti-6Al-4V while the beta phase was preferentially attacked in the two-phase TMZF. The performance of the alloys in corrosive environment was discussed in terms of the volume fraction of the constituent phases and partitioning of alloying elements between these phases. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.