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ISSN 0010-9312 (print), 1938-159X (online) 13/000221/$5.00+$0.50/0 © 2013, NACE International

There is increasing concern regarding the biological consequences of metal release from implants. However, the mechanisms underpinning implant surface degradation, especially in the absence of wear, are often poorly understood. Here the synergistic effect of albumin and H2O2 on corrosion of Ti6Al4V in physiological saline is studied with electrochemical methods. It is found that albumin induces a time-dependent dissolution of Ti6Al4V in the presence of H2O2 in physiology saline. Potentiostatic polarisation measurements show that albumin supresses dissolution in the presence of H2O2 at short times (<24 h) but over longer time periods (120 h) it significantly accelerates corrosion, which is attributed to albumin-catalysed dissolution of the corrosion product layer resulting in formation of a thinner oxide film. Dissolution of Ti6Al4V in the presence of albumin and H2O2 in physiological saline is also found to be dependent on potential: the titanium ion release rate is found to be higher (0.57 µg/cm2) at a lower potential (90 mV), where the oxide capacitance and resistance inferred from Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy also suggests a less resistant oxide film. The study highlights the importance of using more realistic solutions, and considering behaviour over longer time periods when testing corrosion resistance of metallic biomaterials.

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