Paula Drob

A new Ti‐15Zr‐5Nb alloy with suitable microstructure and mechanical properties was processed by galvanostatic anodization in 0.3 M H₃PO₄ solution and a continuous nanostructured layer of protective TiO₂ oxide was electrodeposited. The obtained anatase oxide layer has a nanotubes‐like porosity (SEM observations) and contains significant amount of phosphorus in phosphotitanate compound embedded in the oxide lattice (Raman, FT‐IR, SEM, and EDX analysis). This layer composition can stimulate the formation of the bone and its porosity can offer a good scaffold for bone cell adhesion. The electrochemical behaviour, corrosion stability, and variations of the open circuit potentials, E_oc, and corresponding open circuit potential gradients, ΔE_oc, for 1500 soaking hours in Ringer solutions of 3.21, 7.58, and 8.91 pH values were studied. The anodized layer was more resistant, stable (from EIS spectra), and was formed from an inner barrier insulating layer that assures the very good alloy corrosion resistance and an outer porous layer that provides the good conditions for cell development. The nanostructured alloy has higher corrosion stability, namely, a more reduced quantity of ions released and a lower toxicity than that of the bare one. The monitoring of E_oc and ΔE_oc showed the enhancement and stabilizing of the long‐term passive state of the anodized alloy and, respectively, no possibility at galvanic corrosion.

A new Ti ‐20 Nb ‐10 Zr ‐5 Ta bioalloy with low Young's modulus (59 GPa) was coated with nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite ( HA ) ceramic layer by chemical method of soaking in a slightly supersaturated calcium and phosphate ions solution. The formation of HA was demonstrated using XRD , Raman microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy; the coating morphology and microstructure were determined using SEM . The coating protective capacity and its long‐term (2000 h) stability in simulated biofluids were revealed by the improvement of the all electrochemical parameters; also, HA ceramic coating reduced the alloy corrosion and ion release rates. After 2000 immersion hours in biofluids no compositional change occurs in the HA ceramic coating, only depositions from solution take place that change the coating morphology. Also, the in time increase of the coating stability and thickness (as a result of the new deposition from physiological solutions) indicates bioactivity.

In this work, a new ternary Ti–25Ta–5Zr alloy (with nontoxic alloying elements) was obtained and used to develop a thermo‐mechanical procedure in order to optimize the balance strength – elastic modulus. Data about structural (by SEM) and mechanical properties are investigated. Also, its electrochemical behaviour in Ringer–Brown and Ringer solutions of different pH values (simulating severe functional conditions of an implant) was studied by cyclic potentiodynamic and linear polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). From cyclic potentiodynamic polarization curves it resulted the nobler behaviour of the thermo‐mechanical treated alloy than as‐cast alloy due to the favourable influence of the applied processing. Impedance spectra were fitted with one time constant equivalent circuit characterizing a very stable, resistant oxide passive film. The values of the open circuit potentials for the treated alloy are nobler than of the as‐cast alloy and tended to more positive values in time, proving that the passive film on its surface is more compact and thickened in time.

The properties of the surface films formed on Ti and its Ti–5Al–4V and Ti–6Al–3.5Fe alloys by chemical (immersion in 10 M NaOH) and thermal treatment (500 °C) were studied in this paper. Their corrosion behaviour in Ringer solution was investigated. After treatments, the sample microhardness was measured. Also, the sample surfaces were observed by an optical microscope before and after immersion in Ringer solutions. The electrochemical behaviour of the surface films obtained by the chemical and thermal treatments was studied using the methods of the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and monitoring of open circuit potentials at different immersion periods (up to 60 days) in Ringer solution. Microhardness increased with the increasing loads for the studied materials, showing the existence of a compact protective layer. Microscopic observations exhibited more compact coatings after 60 days of exposure in Ringer solution, due to the formation of an apatite layer. EIS spectra revealed surface films with two layers: an inner, barrier protective layer and an outer, porous apatite layer. The impedance increases in time denoting that the films have grown by apatite nucleation. Also, EIS spectra showed that the complex treatment by chemical + heat method is the most efficiently. For the samples treated by the two processes (chemical + heat) the values of the open circuit potentials are nobler than of the chemical treated samples, denoting better protective, bioactive films.