Comparison of fretting corrosion behaviour of Ti–6Al–4V alloy and CP-Ti in Ringer’s solution

Abstract

The fretting corrosion behaviour of Ti–6Al–4V alloy in Ringer’s solution was evaluated and compared with that of commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti). Free corrosion potential, morphology of the fretted zone, extent of formation and accumulation of debris and wear volume were used as parameters of evaluation. Both Ti–6Al–4V alloy and CP-Ti behave similarly in terms of change in free corrosion potential as a function of time, morphological features and wear mechanism. Ti–6Al–4V alloy, however, exhibits an increase in corrosion susceptibility, decrease in tendency for repassivation, higher amount of formation and accumulation of debris and an increase in wear volume compared with CP-Ti. The study points out the importance of material selection for implants that would encounter fretting corrosion.

Keywords:

• Tribocorrosion
• Fretting corrosion
• Ti and its alloys
• Implant
• Joint prostheses
• Repassivation

The authors express their sincere thanks to Dr S. Srikanth, Director, National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, for his constant encouragement and support and for his permission to publish this paper.