Corrosion behavior of laser powder bed fusion manufactured Cu-bearing titanium alloy in artificial saliva

Abstract

This study examined the corrosion behavior of Cu-bearing titanium alloy, Ti-xCu (x = 0,2,5,8 wt%) manufactured through laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) in artificial saliva. The results demonstrated that the Ti-8Cu alloy exhibited exceptional corrosion resistance, attributed to the formation of a protective passivation film facilitated by the copper (Cu) addition. The incorporation of Cu effectively anchored the grain boundaries and resulted in grain refinement, contributing to the enhanced corrosion resistance of the alloy. The Ti-xCu alloy with higher Cu content exhibited higher concentration of finer grains and greater density of dislocations, thereby promoting the formation of more compact passive film and leading to an enhanced corrosion resistance.