Electrochemical corrosion behavior of β‑Ti alloy in a physiological saline solution and the impact of H2O2 and albumin

Abstract

Orthopedic and dental equipment have always been made of Ti and its alloys. In physiological saline solution, the corrosion behavior of the β-Ti alloy, as a possible replacement for Ti and Ti6Al4V in medical applications, was studied. In agreement with the EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy), the PPCs (potentiodynamic polarization curves) findings, and the OCP (the open circuit potential), the specimens’ resistance of corrosion declines in the next arrangement: β-Ti alloy > Ti6Al4V alloy > Ti in a physiological saline solution (PSS). Because of the thin layer of Ti oxide that forms on its surface, the β-Ti alloy is widely known for its ability to resist corrosion in dental applications. H2O2, a reactive oxygen species that is present during inflammation, and albumin, the most prevalent protein in biological fluids, were added to in vitro tests to stimulate peri-implant inflammatory conditions. Consequently, for the first time in PSS at 310 K, electrochemical and long-term immersion tests were utilized to assay the impact of BSA (bovine serum albumin) and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) on the β-Ti alloy corrosion. Because hydrogen peroxide has a high oxidizing effect, its existence increases the OCP’s positive trend. The EIS and PPCs show that albumin suppresses both the cathodic reaction and the anodic dissolution, whereas hydrogen peroxide enhances both the cathodic and anodic reactions. It was discovered that there was a good correlation between the electrochemical data and SEM photomicrographs obtained before and after corrosion testing.