The Synergetic Effect of Micro-Blasting and Thermal Oxidation on the Corrosion Performance of Ti6Al4V

Ti6Al4V alloy is widely used for orthopaedic applications due to its excellent osteointegration, good biocompatibility, great strength-to-weight ratio, and comparable elasticity with bone. However, when this alloy is exposed for long-term in the body fluid, it releases the corrosion products of metals and metal oxides. The released particles react with the surrounding tissue and cause an adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR) which leads to pseudotumor formation, and osteolysis (bone degradation). Thus, corrosion is a critical parameter for bio-implants and in this study to minimize corrosion, thermal oxidation was performed on micro-blasted Ti6Al4V surfaces for 24 and 48 h. Surface morphology, phase analysis, surface roughness, and wettability of all types of samples were evaluated using FESEM, EDS, XRD, AFM, and Goniometer. The electrochemical performance was studied in 0.9 wt% NaCl. The combined mechanical and thermal process increases surface roughness and improves the hydrophilic nature of the Ti6Al4V surface by 67 %. The formation of metastable Ti2O3 during micro-blasting and further transformation of anatase and rutile TiO2 during thermal oxidation increases the intensity of anatase and rutile TiO2 formed on the surface and enhances corrosion resistance. Overall, micro-blasting with 48 h thermal oxidation showed 2 times higher corrosion resistance and reduced corrosion rate by almost 50 % as compared with the untreated Ti6Al4V.