Effect of surface mechanical attrition treatment on corrosion resistance of commercial pure titanium

We report on the effects of surface mechanical attrition treatment on the corrosion behavior of commercial pure titanium. The corrosion resistance before and after treatment were investigated by studying potentiodynamic polarization curves and by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The potentiodynamic polarization curves for a sample treated by surface mechanical attrition and for an untreated commercial pure titanium sample at room temperature showed that the corrosion potential of the former ranged from − 1.11 to − 1.06 V, whereas that of the latter was − 1.23 V. The corrosion current density for the treated sample ranged from − 5.02 × 10− 4 to − 4.98 × 10− 4A.cm− 2, and that for the untreated sample was − 4.56 × 10− 4A.cm− 2. A comparison of current densities at the same polarized potential showed a significant reduction in dissolution current of the treated sample. This indicates a lower corrosion rate for the sample treated by surface mechanical attrition. Surface mechanical attrition treatment was therefore confirmed to have beneficial impacts on corrosion behavior in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution.