Investigation of the electrochemical corrosion properties of high-energy milled Ti6Al4V alloy in simulated body fluid environment

ABSTRACT

In this study, the electrochemical corrosion properties of high-energy milled Ti6Al4V alloy are investigated. The Ti6Al4V alloy is produced by high-energy milling at different milling times in mechanical milling device as 15–120 min. Produced alloy powders are cold-pressed under 620 MPa pressure and sintered at 1300°C temperature and characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction, hardness and density measurements. Corrosion tests are conducted in simulated body fluid at 37°C body temperature. Results showed that the average particle size of the powder is reduced, and the hardness of the alloy is increased with the increasing milling time. It is determined that the corrosion properties of the alloys change by the high-energy milling time, and the corrosion rate increases by the decreasing particle size of the powder. SEM examination of the corroded surfaces after potentiodynamic polarisation tests revealed that pitting formation tendency of the alloys on the alloy surface increases by the increasing high-energy milling time.

KEYWORDS:

• Ti6Al4V alloy
• biomaterial
• high-energy milling
• milling time
• sintering
• hardness
• corrosion
• simulated body fluid

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

I. Simsek was born on 1985 in Osmaniye, Turkey. She graduated from Karabuk University, Turkey in 2009 and achieved her MSc degree in 2011 and her PhD degree from Karabuk University, Turkey in 2017.

D. Ozyurek was born on 1965 in Karabuk, Turkey, and has recently been appointed as Associative Professor in the Manufacturing Engineering Department of the Technology Faculty at Karabuk University, Turkey. He graduated from Gazi University, Turkey in 1982 and achieved his MSc degree in 1993 and his PhD degree from Gazi University, Turkey in 2002.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are pleased to acknowledge the financial support for this study from Karabuk University Scientific Research Projects Department (Project number KBÜBAP-17-YD-382).