Improvement of the corrosion resistance and structural and mechanical properties of a titanium base alloy by thermo‐mechanical processing

Abstract

AbstractIn this work, a new ternary Ti–25Ta–5Zr alloy (with nontoxic alloying elements) was obtained and used to develop a thermo‐mechanical procedure in order to optimize the balance strength – elastic modulus. Data about structural (by SEM) and mechanical properties are investigated. Also, its electrochemical behaviour in Ringer–Brown and Ringer solutions of different pH values (simulating severe functional conditions of an implant) was studied by cyclic potentiodynamic and linear polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). From cyclic potentiodynamic polarization curves it resulted the nobler behaviour of the thermo‐mechanical treated alloy than as‐cast alloy due to the favourable influence of the applied processing. Impedance spectra were fitted with one time constant equivalent circuit characterizing a very stable, resistant oxide passive film. The values of the open circuit potentials for the treated alloy are nobler than of the as‐cast alloy and tended to more positive values in time, proving that the passive film on its surface is more compact and thickened in time.