Wear and corrosion behaviour of Ti–13Nb–13Zr and Ti–6Al–4V alloys in simulated physiological solution

Abstract

Wear and corrosion behaviour of cold-rolled Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy, with martensitic microstructure, and Ti–6Al–4V ELI alloy, in martensitic and two-phase (α + β) microstructural conditions, was studied in a Ringer’s solution. The wear experiments were performed at room temperature with a normal load of 40 N and sliding speeds 0.26, 0.5 and 1.0 m/s. The corrosion behaviour was studied at 37 °C using open circuit potential-time measurements and potentiodynamic polarization. It was found that Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy has a substantially lower wear resistance than Ti–6Al–4V ELI alloy in both microstructural conditions. Surface damage extent increases with sliding speed increase and is always smallest for martensitic Ti–6Al–4V ELI alloy with highest hardness. Both alloys exhibit spontaneous passivity in Ringer’s solution. Corrosion potential values are similar for all three materials. However, Ti–13Nb–13Zr and martensitic Ti–6Al–4V ELI alloys show improved corrosion resistance comparatively to Ti–6Al–4V ELI alloy with (α + β) microstructure. Martensitic Ti–6Al–4V ELI alloy possesses the best combination of both corrosion and wear resistance, although its corrosion resistance is found to be slightly higher than that of the Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy.