Electrochemical characterization of ZrTi alloys for biomedical applications. Part 2: The effect of thermal oxidation

- Oxidation in air of ZrTi alloys produces materials with very high corrosion resistance in Ringer's solution at 37 °C.
- The electrochemical behaviour corresponds to materials covered by passive oxide layers with barrier characteristics.
- The current densities related to passivity are 2-3 orders of magnitude smaller than those determined for the untreated alloys.
- Electrochemical impedance spectra exhibited two relaxation constants consistent with a two-layer structure.
- The oxide layer is a mixture of ZrO2 and TiO2.