Abstract
The corrosion of pure titanium (CP- Ti Grade 2) and titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V ELI) were studied under various conditions of simulated body fluids. The static immersion test and the electrochemical test were performed in accordance with ISO 10271 : 2001. For the electrochemical test, the open circuit potential was monitored as a function of time, and the cyclic polarization curve was recorded. The corrosion resistance was evaluated from the values of corrosion potential, passivation current density, breakdown potential, and the shape of hysteresis etc. The effects of alloy type, surface condition, temperature, oxygen, and constituents in the fluids such as acid, chloride were estimated. Both specimens had extremely low dissolution rate in the static immersion test. They showed strong passivation characteristics in the electrochemical test. They maintained negligible current density throughout the wide anodic potential range. The passive layer was not broken up to 2.0 V (vs. SCE). The hysteresis and the shift of passivation potential toward the anodic direction was observed during the reversed scan. The passivation process appeared to be accelerated by oxygen in air or that dissolved in the fluids. The passivation also proceeded without oxygen by the reaction of constituents in the fluids. Acid or chloride in the fluids, specially later weakened the passive layer, and then induced higher passivation current density and less shift of passivation potential in the reversed scan. CP-Ti Grade 2 was more reactive than Ti6Al4V ELI in the fluids containing acid or chloride, but thicker layer produced on its surface provided higher corrosion resistance.