Ti-6Al-4V alloy obtained by powder metallurgy (PM) is a good candidate biomaterial in the manufacture of dental implants but its inherent porosity makes it have worse corrosion behavior than conventionally obtained alloys. In order to improve the corrosion and biological properties, surface modification technologies could be used. The plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process is a novelty process successfully used in case of conventional titanium alloys. The present work investigates the effect of PEO treatment on PM Ti-6Al-4V alloy using two electrolytes. Both coatings show good adherence and improved corrosion behavior in artificial saliva, the PEO coatings delivers a steady growth of corrosion resistance from day one until 90 days immersion. Highest corrosion resistance was shown in case of Ca/P enrichment PEO coatings. The cytocompatibility tests indicated these coatings seem to be appropriate to improve the bone osseointegration with proper porosity index.

This investigation is focused on the corrosion evaluation of an as-cast Al-Si alloy, obtained by two different casting methods: traditional sand casting and three-printing casting, using a binder jetted mold. The experimental results are discussed in terms of chemical composition, microstructure, hardness, and corrosion behavior of two different casting parts. The microstructure and composition of the sample before and after the corrosion tests was analyzed using light microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (DRX). The corrosion of the two processed castings was analyzed using anodic polarization (PA) test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in an aerated solution of 3.5% by weight NaCl, similar to the seawater environment. After the corrosion process, the samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma/optical emission spectrometry (ICP/OES); the composition was used to determine the chloride solution after immersion times. The sample processed by binder jetting mold showed higher corrosion resistance with nobler potentials, lower corrosion densities, higher polarization resistance, and more stable passive layers than the sample processed by sand casting. This improvement of corrosion resistance could be related to the presence of coarse silicon particles, which decrease of cathodic/anodic ratio and the number of micro-galvanic couples, and the lower amount of intermetallic β Al-Fe-Si phase observed in cast alloy solidified in binder jetting mold.

AbstractMicrostructural changes that result in relevant improvements in mechanical properties and electrochemical behavior can be induced using different sintering conditions of ASTM F75 cobalt alloys during their processing using powder metallurgy technique. It has been observed that the increase in carbon and nitrogen content improves corrosion resistance and mechanical properties as long as the precipitation of carbides and nitrides is avoided, thanks to the use of rapid cooling in water after the sintering stage. In addition, the reduction of the particle size of the powder improves hardness and resistance to corrosion in both acid medium with chlorides and phosphate-buffered medium that simulates the physiological conditions for its use as a biomaterial. These results lead to increased knowledge of the role of carbon and nitrogen content in the behavior displayed by the different alloys studied.

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