title: Corrosion behaviour of a beta-titanium alloy.
abstract: The beta-titanium alloy, a particular type of titanium, has been investigated as a biomaterial because of its good mechanical performances and its high corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. This work focuses on the corrosion performance of a beta-titanium alloy of composition Ti-11Mo-2V-4Nb-3Al in Hank's physiological solution. Potentiodynamic tests were performed from -0.25 V to 3.5 V; the breakdown potential was not reached. To observe the behaviour of the alloy while submitted to long-term aggressive conditions, 1, 4 and 8 cycles of cyclic polarization were carried out. Results show a high resistance of the alloy to corrosion and a stabilization of the surface after several corrosion cycles. Pitting was not observed and a fast ability of the surface to repassivate was noticed. The surface was characterized by different techniques before and after corrosion testing. Following the corrosion tests, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) showed the presence of calcium and phosphorus, an increase of the oxide layer was measured by Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES), a relatively smooth surface was visualised by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and contact-angle measurements showed that the surface energy increased.
authors.affiliation: Groupe de Recherche en Biomécanique/Biomatériaux, Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal, C.P. 6079, Succ. cv, Mtl (QC) H3C 3A7, Canada.
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Aziza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manceur
authors.forename: Stéfania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polizu
authors.forename: Oumarou
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Savadogo
authors.forename: Ming H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: L'Hocine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yahia
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D003343:Corrosion; D008422:Materials Testing; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C023988:beta titanium; D014025:Titanium