Corrosion and tribocorrosion behaviour of β-type Ti-Nb and Ti-Mo surfaces designed by diffusion treatments for biomedical applications

Abstract

Corrosion and tribocorrosion behaviour of modified Ti surfaces through thermochemical treatments has been studied. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and reciprocating sliding tests using a ball-on-plate tribometer under 1 N load and alumina as counter-material were used to evaluate the influence of Nb and Mo on titanium corrosion and tribocorrosion properties. Ti-Nb and Ti-Mo surfaces exhibited better anticorrosive properties than CP-titanium. Under tribological action the modified Ti surfaces showed similar coefficient of friction and lower tendency to corrosion compared to CP-Ti. Furthermore, Nb diffusion increased the repassivation rate with respect to Ti and Ti-Mo surfaces due to its stable passive film.