EFFECT OF SURFACE MODIFICATION ON CORROSION RESISTANCE OF Zr-2.5Nb

ANDREA GOMEZ SANCHEZ; SILVIA CERÉ; SILVIA B. FARINA

Ljubljana

Simposio; OURTH REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ELECTROCHEMISTRY OF SOUTH-EAST EUROPE (RSE-SEE4); 2013; 2013

International Society of Electrochemistry (EIS)

The promising results obtained of some in vitro and in vivo studies of zirconium have pointed out this metal as a potential material for permanent implants. In particular, surface modification induced by anodisation has proved to be effective to improve corrosion resistance while keeping good osseointegration. The combination of zirconium with niobium is supposed to develop a structure that presents a high corrosion resistance and continues having the mechanical resistance necessary for implants. The aim of the present work is to determine the viability of using anodised Zr2.5Nb as implant material. To that purpose anodised samples of zirconium and Zr2.5Nb were compared by performing in vitro electrochemical tests in the anodising solution and in a simulated biological media. The presence of Ca-P rich compounds, believed to enhance the bioactivity in vivo, was also investigated in the as-received and anodised samples after immersion in the simulated biological solution. Polarization tests revealed that by anodising the materials a higher corrosion resistance is obtained. The improvement on the corrosion resistance is particularly noticeable in the case of the pure metal after a short period immersed in the simulated biological solution. But, after a long period of immersion, the alloy shows better performance. Ca-P compounds were detected only on anodised zirconium.