Electrochemical corrosion of titanium and titanium-based alloys

Statement of problem. Two varieties of unalloyed titanium, Ti-6Al-4V and NiTi, commonly are used in medical and dental fields. Several other types of alloys for potential use in these fields have been developed, including Ti-4.5Al-3V-2Mo-2Fe and vanadium-free alloys (Ti-5Al-2.5Fe and Ti-5Al-3Mo-4Zr). The corrosion of these alloys under simulated physiologic conditions is not known. Purpose. This study compared the corrosion behaviors of 6 titanium materials through electrochemical polarization tests in 37°C Ringer's solution. Material and methods. The applied voltage was potentiostatically scanned from −0.6 to 1.0 V. From polarization curves, the corrosion rate (averaged over 3 samples) for each alloy was calculated and compared with that of other alloys. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Student-Newman-Keuls multiple range test were performed at a 95% overall confidence level to identify statistically significance differences in corrosion rates. Surface oxide films were identified by electron diffraction, and the electrolyte medium was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after each alloy was tested. Results. Commercially pure titanium and Ti-5Al-2.5Fe were the most resistant to corrosion; Ti-5Al-3Mo-4Zr, Ti-6Al-4V, and NiTi were the least resistant to corrosion. NiTi exhibited pitting corrosion along with transpassivation. Conclusion. Electron diffraction patterns indicated that all titanium alloys were covered mainly with rutile-type oxide (TiO2) after corrosion tests. The oxides that formed on Ti-5Al-2.5Fe were identified as a mixture of TiO2 and Ti9O17, and those that formed on NiTi were identified as a mixture of TiO2 and Ni2Ti4O. (J Prosthet Dent 2001;85:195-202.)