Microstructure and Electrochemical Behavior of in Vitro Ti-26Nb, Ti-26Zr and Ti-26Ta Alloys Processed by Levitation Melting Technique

This paper presents a study on microstructure, elasticity modulus and electrochemical behavior of Ti-26Nb, Ti-26Zr and Ti-26Ta binary alloys obtained in an induction furnace equipped with a water cooled copper crucible which can promote levitation of the moltem alloys. The microstructures and eletrochemical behavior were investigated by means of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, optical microscopy, microvickers hardness, open circuit potential, corrosion potential and polarization resistance. The results revealed that the difference in nominal chemical composition related to contamination was extremely low, which indicates that this melting technique is highly appropriate for obtaining contaminant-free titanium alloy. The addition of niobium was very favorable for obtaining near-β alloy with a low elasticity modulus. Additionally, alloy Ti-26Nb presented the best corrosion resistance combined with low elasticity modulus.