Corrosion resistance of Ti-6Al-4V and ASTM F75 alloys processed by electron beam melting

The electron beam melting (EBM) is a useful technique for fabricating alloys that are difficult to machine and require expensive tools as well as the presence of inert atmosphere for further treatments. Under vacuum, EBM provides a controlled environment, reducing the drawbacks of the alloys of their processing in a conventional manner and thereby improving their microstructure, which can enhance corrosion resistance. In the present work, the corrosion resistance of the Ti-6Al-4V and ASTM F75 alloys was evaluated by using the Tafel extrapolation technique with scan rates of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.166 mV/s. The corrosion specimens were submerged in a Hank solution to simulate the corporal fluid. The specimens were characterized before and after the corrosion tests by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, as well as a chemical microanalysis by EDS. The microstructural characterization before the corrosion tests revealed a dual phase (α + β) microstructure and α′ martensite in the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. For the ASTM F75 (Co-base) alloy, carbides were observed on the grain boundaries. Corrosion resistance increased in the Ti-6Al-4V alloy, from 0.50 to 0.14 mpy, possibly due to the formation of a TiO2 passive layer. For the case of the ASTM F75 alloy, the corrosion rate decreased from 0.21 to 0.14 milli-inches/year (mpy) due to the formation of Cr layer. The corrosion results were observed to be very similar for the EBM fabricated alloys in comparison with more commercially fabricated alloys.