Corrosion of Intermetallics in Hank´s Solution

R. A. Rodriguez-Diaz1, S. Serna1,*, A. M. Ramirez-Arteaga1, 2, E. Diaz1, 2

1
Centro de Investigación en Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas - UAEM, Av. Universidad 1001, Chamilpa 62209,
Cuernavaca Morelos, México.
2
Facultad de Ciencias Químicas e Ingeniería - UAEM, Av. Universidad 1001, Chamilpa 62209, Cuernavaca
Morelos, México.
3
Universidad Politécnica del Estado de Morelos, Boulevard Cuauhnáhuac 566, 62550 Jiutepec, MOR, México.

*E-mail: aserna@uaem.mx, rdiaz.unam@gmail.com

Abstract

Keywords:

1. Introduction

During various decades in the field of medical sciences including the biomedical engineering
and dentistry, various materials commonly named as biomaterials have been used aiming to
substitute or repair a tissue, body feature, organ or function. The proper functioning of
biomaterials that are in contact with living tissue is determined by the biocompatibility and
biofunctionality.

For the case of metallic biomaterials, one aspect that greatly influences the biocompatibility
behavior is the corrosion resistance and the corrosion products liberated onto the surrounding
tissue [1]. For example in dental sciences, the corrosion products of dental alloys possess
metal ions which may induce allergic reactions and some other diseases. In this sense, the
electrochemical behavior of non-precious alloys has been subject of various investigations
[2].

The corrosion resistance of the most common used metallic materials as austenitic stainless
steels, Co-Cr alloys, Ti and Ti-based implant alloys is determined by their passivation nature
which is at the same time controlled by a thin surface layer of oxide [3-6].

The ideal combination of properties of a metallic biomaterial, are as follows: A

biocompatible chemical composition to evade harmful tissue reactions. Excellent resistance
to degradation or corrosion, Appropriate strength to maintain cyclic loading supported by the
joint, elevated modulus to decrease the bone resorption, high wear resistance to minimize
wear waste generation [7].
The nature of physiological medium is extremely adverse and unfavorable to all external
materials and for that reason the effect of environment on metallic implant and the influence
of the metallic implant on its host tissue are a subject of main concern. It is worth noting that
the physiological environment contains an elevated concentration of chloride ions which
represents a very corrosive medium for metallic implants [8].

The intermetallic compounds based on aluminides of transition metals which possess an

ordered crystal structure are among the materials that can function properly as structural
materials, since the Al content of these compounds promotes the formation of a protective
layer of Al-oxide, which indices a good oxidation, corrosion, and sulfidation resistance at
room temperature or higher; besides these intermetallic compounds preserve a good strength
and stiffness at elevated temperatures [9-12].

During the last decades, the investigations related to the corrosion comportment of
Aluminides have been growing due to their interesting aqueous corrosion behaviors in acidic,
basic, chloride and sulfur-compound solutions. For these reasons, the iron aluminides are
among the materials that can be considered as substitutes of metallic biomaterials [13-15].

Hence, the object of this research is to report an assessment of the corrosion behavior of
intermetallic composition alloy by means of electrochemical techniques when the
intermetallic compounds are exposed to a hank´s solution for a short period of time.

2. Experimental Procedures

2.1. Materials
Cast ingots of ternary Fe-40AlX (X = 2.5 Ag, 2.5Cr) (at. %) alloys were fabricated employing
a high-frequency induction furnace at about 1500°C in air. High purity (99.9 %) Fe, Al, Cr
and Ag were put inside a SiC crucible in order to be induction melted. The molten ternary
Fe40Al based alloys were poured into a rectangular steel mold, then the alloys were
subsequently solidified during cooling until room temperature was reached, the ingots
produced in this way displayed a coarse grain microstructure.

2.2. Hank’s Solution

The previously produced alloys were exposed to the biomimetic solution, in this case, the
Hank’s solution was used as the corrosion medium, consisting of 8.0 g/L NaCl, 0.4 g/L KCl,
0.06 g/L KH2PO4, 1.0 g/L glucose (C6H6O6), 0.048 g/L Na2HPO4, 0.098 g/L MgSO47H2O,
0.14 g/L CaCl2 and 0.35 g/L NaHCO3 in distilled water. The pH 7.2 solution was prepared
with analytical grade chemical reagents