Influence of Ultrasound Bone Union Stimulation on Corrosion Resistance of Titanium Alloys

Abstract

The influence of bone union activation realized with the use of the low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on degradation of titanium alloys was presented in the work. Ti6Al4V ELI and Ti6Al7Nb alloy samples of modified surface layer were used in the study. The preliminary surface treatments were: grinding, vibration machining, mechanical polishing, sandblasting and electrochemical polishing. The final procedures of the surface modification were anodization and steam sterilization. The scope of the work included the study of pitting corrosion resistance and concentration of metal ions released to the Ringer’s solution. The study was performed for the undeformed and deformed samples subjected to the influence of ultrasound. The reference samples were the samples kept in the solution and not having the impact of ultrasound. On the basis of the study it was found that the conditions for bone union stimulation by low intensity pulsed ultrasound do not initiate pitting corrosion of the titanium alloy samples, although they increase the mass of ions released from the surface to the solution.