Corrosion Resistance of Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr Alloy in a Fluoride-Containing Solution
The objective of this study was to evaluate the corrosion behavior of Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr alloy (TNTZ) with immersion in an acidic saline solution containing fluoride by investigating change in color and the surface structure of the oxide film. With immersion in fluoride-containing solution, TNTZ showed a less marked change in color than commercially pure titanium (TI), and a smaller decrease in glossiness. The outermost surface was covered with oxides from its constituent elements at before and after immersion in solution with or without fluoride. When immersed in fluoride-containing solution, the film consisted of larger niobium and tantalum oxides than that before or after immersion in solution without fluoride. In summary, TNTZ showed superior resistance to discoloration to TI after immersion in fluoride-containing solution. The results suggest that the subsequent increase in niobium and tantalum fractions in the oxide film in TNTZ improves resistance to corrosion.