Evaluation of the Electrochemical Behavior of the Biomedical Alloy Ti-10Mo-3Nb

Abstract

This work analyzed the Ti-10Mo-3Nb, a biomedical alloy very promising and deserving of further study in order to contribute to the literature. Microstructural characterization, evaluation of mechanical properties and analysis of electrochemical behavior are part of the methodology. The electrochemical assays were evaluated by: Open Circuit Potential (OCP), Polarization Curves and Chronoamperometry tests. All tests were performed in the following media: M1 = 0.9 wt% NaCl, M2 = 0.9 wt% NaCl pH 1.0, M3 = 0.35 wt% NaCl. The alloy was producted in laboratory and solution-treated at 950ºC under argon atmosphere for 1 hour and then quenched in water. Results showed that the microstructure presented β matrix with distribution of α`` and ω phases, analised by X-ray diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The value measured of Elastic Modulus was 105.51 GPa and hardeness 332.08 HV. The OCP response and the polarization curves obtained in media M1 and M2 showed that the Ti-10Mo-3Nb alloy exhibited greater corrosion resistance compared to the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The evaluation of the Ti-10Mo-3Nb alloy behavior in relation to the composition of corrosive medium showed that the alloy is more susceptible to corrosion in media with higher chloride ion concentration and high acidity (M2).

Keywords:
Ti alloy; Metallic biomaterial; electrochemical tests