Impact of Microstructural and Surface Modifications on the Ti-45Nb Alloy’s Response to Bio-Environment

doi:10.1007/s40195-024-01705-0

Abstract

Abstract:

The Ti-45Nb (mass%) alloy’s corrosive and biocompatible response in simulated physiological conditions was investigated before and after its additional high-pressure torsion (HPT) and laser irradiation processing. The grain size reduction from 2.76 µm to ~ 200 nm and the appearance of laser-induced morphologically altered and highly oxidized surface led to the significant improvement of alloy corrosion resistance and cell-implant interaction. Moreover, an additional increase of the laser pulse energy from 5 to 15 mJ during the alloy irradiation in the air led to an increase in the surface oxygen content from 13.64 to 23.89% accompanied by an increase of excellent cell viability from 127.18 to 134.42%. As a result of the controlled alloy microstructural and surface modifications, the formation of protective bi-modal mixed Ti- and Nb-oxide external scale was enabled. The presence of this surface oxide scale enhanced the alloy’s resistance to corrosion deterioration and simultaneously boosted cell viability and proliferation.

Key words: Ti-45Nb alloy, High-pressure torsion, Laser surface scanning, Corrosion resistance, Biocompatible properties

Ivana Cvijović-Alagić, Slađana Laketić, Miloš Momčilović, Jovan Ciganović, Jelena Bajat, Vesna Kojić. Impact of Microstructural and Surface Modifications on the Ti-45Nb Alloy’s Response to Bio-Environment[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2024, 37(7): 1215-1230.

Figures/Tables 13

Fig. 1 Schematic illustration of the EEC model used for the EIS data fitting

Fig. 2 EBSD microstructural analysis of the Ti-45Nb alloy before HPT processing: a IPF map with the standard triangle color code in the top left corner, b grain size distribution

Fig. 3 STEM images of the HPT-processed Ti-45Nb alloy

Fig. 4 FE-SEM micrographs of the HPT-processed Ti-45Nb alloy surface after the additional laser surface irradiation with a, b 5 mJ, c, d 15 mJ

Fig. 5 2D surface profiles obtained by the profilometric analysis of the HPT-processed Ti-45Nb alloy after additional laser surface irradiation with a 5 mJ, b 15 mJ

Fig. 6 Average oxygen content value on the surface of HPT-processed and laser-irradiated Ti-45Nb alloy depending on the laser irradiation parameters

Fig. 7 XRD analysis of the Ti-45Nb alloy: a HPT-processed, b, c HPT-processed after additional alloy laser surface irradiation with b 5 mJ, c 15 mJ

Fig. 8 Potentiodynamic polarization curves of the Ti-45Nb alloy before and after HPT processing and additional laser surface irradiation obtained in naturally aerated Ringer’s solution at 37 °C

Table 1 Corrosion potentials (Ecorr), corrosion current densities (jcorr), and electrochemical parameters of the Ti-45Nb alloy before and after the HPT process

Ti-45Nb alloy	E_corr ± SD (V (SCE))	j_corr ± SD (10^-8 A cm⁻²)	R_Ω (Ω)	Outer porous layer			Inner barrier layer			Goodness of fit
				R_p (Ω cm²)	CPE_p		R_b (Ω cm²)	CPE_b
				R_p (Ω cm²)	Y_o × 10⁶ (sⁿ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻²)	n	R_b (Ω cm²)	Y_o × 10⁶ (sⁿ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻²)	n
CG	− 0.305 ± 0.016	2.84 ± 0.03	65.0	39.2	21.8	0.96	0.27 × 10⁶	17.5	0.79	203.6 × 10^-6
UFG	0.355 ± 0.011	0.65 ± 0.07	68.2	109	26.4	0.96	2.52 × 10⁶	9.95	0.74	54.8 × 10^-6
UFG irradiated with 5 mJ	0.300 ± 0.009	0.32 ± 0.04	60.5	150	13.24	0.86	29.5 × 10⁶	6.40	0.84	447 × 10^-6
UFG irradiated with 15 mJ	0.152 ± 0.006	0.16 ± 0.03	54.2	32.5	18.1	0.79	15.8 × 10⁶	7.55	0.98	199 × 10^-6

Fig. 9 Electrochemical impedance spectra of the Ti-45Nb alloy before and after HPT processing and additional laser surface irradiation obtained in naturally aerated Ringer’s solution at 37 °C: a Nyquist plot, b Bode modulus plot, c Bode phase angle plot

Fig. 10 Cell survival obtained by the MTT assay after 48 h

Fig. 11 Cell viability measured by the DET assay after 48 h

Fig. 12 FE-SEM micrographs of the MRC-5 cells attached to the surface of Ti-45Nb alloy a in as-received condition, b after HPT processing, c, d after combined HPT processing and laser irradiation with c 5 mJ, and d 15 mJ

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