Electrochemical and mechanical characterization of Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-35Nb-7Zr-5Ta alloys: influence of new surface treatments

Abstract

Titanium and Ti-based alloys, particularly Ti-6Al-4V, are widely accepted for the manufacture of orthopedic and dental implants due to their excellent mechanical, physical and chemical properties. However, a new generation of alloys, without aluminum and vanadium, has increased the interest in Medicine. In the oral environment, the success of the use of these alloys relies on the chemical composition, structure and bioactivity of the metal surfaces, as well as corrosion behaviour. Thus, the aim of this study is to characterize Ti-35Nb-7Zr-5Ta and Ti-6Al-4V alloys by electrochemical and mechanical techniques. The alloys will be investigated before and after the surface treatment (functionalization and doping), and in different media (artificial saliva with or without fluoride ions). The surface of the alloys will be characterized for their chemical composition, crystal structure, phase morphology, topography surface and roughness. The evolution of the electrochemical properties will be determined by the electrochemical potential monitoring as a function of the immersion time, potentiodynamic polarization tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The mechanical tests will be: Vickers hardness, tensile strength and mechanical cycling. (AU)