Effect of acidic fluoride solution on the corrosion resistance of ZrTi alloys for dental implant application

Abstract

The electrochemical behaviour of Zr5Ti, Zr25Ti, and Zr45Ti, with and without surface modification were monitored in acidic artificial saliva (pH=3) containing NaF concentrations 0.2, 0.5, and 1wt.%, simulating the fluoride concentrations in dental rinses. A passive behaviour for thermally oxidized ZrTi alloys was found using EIS, and XPS data show that the protective oxide film contains both TiO and ZrO , though titanium contents in the outer layer bigger than those in the base alloy result from thermal oxidation. High corrosion resistance to acidic fluoridated environments of ZrTi alloys treated using thermal oxidation in air at 500°C.