Designing new biocompatible glass‐forming Ti_75‐xZr₁₀Nb_xSi₁₅ (x = 0, 15) alloys: corrosion, passivity, and apatite formation

Abstract

Glass‐forming Ti‐based alloys are considered as potential new materials for implant applications. Ti75Zr10Si15 and Ti60Zr10Nb15Si15 alloys (free of cytotoxic elements) can be produced as melt‐spun ribbons with glassy matrix and embedded single β‐type nanocrystals. The corrosion and passivation behavior of these alloys in their homogenized melt‐spun states have been investigated in Ringer solution at 37°C in comparison to their cast multiphase crystalline counterparts and to cp‐Ti and β‐type Ti‐40Nb. All tested materials showed very low corrosion rates as expressed in corrosion current densities icorr < 50 nA/cm2. Electrochemical and surface analytical studies revealed a high stability of the new alloys passive states in a wide potential range. This corresponds to low passive current densities ipass = 2 ± 1 µA/cm2 based on the growth of oxide films with thickness d <10 nm. A homogeneous constituent distribution in the melt‐spun alloys is beneficial for stable surface passivity. The addition of Nb does not only improve the glass‐forming ability and the mechanical properties but also supports a high pitting resistance even at extreme anodic polarization up to 4V versus SCE were oxide thickness values of d ∼35 nm are reached. With regard to the corrosion properties, the Nb‐containing nearly single‐phase glassy alloy can compete with the β‐type Ti‐40Nb alloy. SBF tests confirmed the ability for formation of hydroxyapatite on the melt‐spun alloy surfaces. All these properties recommend the new glass‐forming alloys for application as wear‐ and corrosion‐resistant coating materials for implants. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 104B: 27–38, 2016.

Ti–Zr–Si–Nb Nanocrystalline Alloys and Metallic Glasses: Assessment on the Structure, Thermal Stability, Corrosion and Mechanical Properties

“…Various types of metallic glasses (Zr-based [18,19,20], Mg-based, Zn-based, Ca-based, and Ti-based) alloying systems were studied due to their higher strength, lower Young’s modulus, better wear and corrosion resistance, compared to their standardized counterparts [21]. Although regarding the Ti-based metallic glasses reports on systems such as Ti–Zr–Si [15], Ti–Zr–Cu–Pd [20], Ti–Zr–Ni–Be [19] and others can be found in the specific literature, there is a limited number of articles referring to the Ti–Zr–Nb–Si metallic glasses obtained by melt-spinning [15,22,23].…”

“…Corrosion and passivation behavior of metallic glasses free of toxic elements, namely Ti 75 Zr 10 Si 15 and Ti 60 Zr 10 Nb 15 Si 15 , produced as melt-spun ribbons by Abdi et al for biomedical applications was also studied [21]. Mechanical properties investigations of Ti 75 Zr 10 Si 15 revealed that Nb has the main effect of decreasing the Young’s modulus of the crystalline alloy as well as its hardness, which is due to the stabilization of a significant fraction of a β-type phase [23].…”

Electrochemical Surface Nanostructuring of Ti47Cu38Fe2.5Zr7.5Sn2Si1Ag2 Metallic Glass for Improved Pitting Corrosion Resistance

“…[29][30][31][32] These BMG corrosion problems hold disadvantages compared to highly resistant alternative implant materials, e.g., Ti, Ti-6Al-4 V, new beta-type Ti-alloys, or simple Ti-based glassformers with only valve-metal-type components. [8,14,33,34] Variations such as partial substitution of critical Cu with more resistant elements, for instance Nb or Ga, can only inhibit but not suppress pitting. Moreover, they deteriorate the GFA.…”

Pd-based Metallic Glasses as Promising Materials for Hydrogen Energy Applications

“…39 MGs possess electrocatalytic behavior and electrochemical hydrogen sorption in alkaline, neutral and acidic media. [40][41][42][43][44][45]47,48 These materials exhibit limited absorption kinetics and hydrogen-tometal (H/M) ratio, and weak electrocatalytic hydrogen activity compared to Pt. However, Pd-metallic glasses (MGs) exhibit a unique collection of properties, i.e., when compared to crystalline Pd, nanostructured Pd-MGs possess lower passivation current density and higher passivation potential, auspicious mechanical strength and hardness along with high wear and fatigue resistance.…”