The influence of potential on electrochemical behavior of Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy under simulated physiological conditions was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The experimental results were compared with those obtained by potentiodynamic polarization curves. All measurements were carried out in Hank's aerated solution at 25 degrees C, at pH 7.8 and at different potentials (corrosion potential, 0 mV(SCE), 1000 mV(SCE), and 2000 mV(SCE)). The EIS spectra exhibited a two-step or a two-time constant system, suggesting the formation of a two-layer oxide film on the metal surface. The high corrosion resistance, displayed by this alloy in electrochemical polarization tests, is due to the dense inner layer, while its osseointegration ability can be ascribed to the presence of the outer porous layer.

The Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy has been recently developed for biomedical use, particularly for orthopedics and dental applications. Osteosynthesis has been used to analyze biocompatibility and osseoconduction properties. The interaction of the implant with its biological environment, the formation of the implant material/tissue interface, and the long-term success or failure of integration in the human body is strongly connected with the surface properties of the implant device. This study was undertaken to evaluate the processes involved in biological responses of the Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy with and without hydroxyapatite coatings with both in vitro and in vivo tests. The results were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) microanalysis. The morphology of the in vitro and in vivo testing results with hydroxyapatite coating was similar to those obtained on the uncoated samples. A mineralized extracellular matrix was formed on all materials. Observation of the interface between the cell layer and substrata showed the presence of calcium and phosphorous-rich globular deposits associated with collagen fibers on all materials in vitro and in vivo. A higher density of these globular deposits was observed in all samples.

The electrochemical behavior of Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy with and without plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite (HA) coating was investigated in Hank's balanced salt solution at 37 degrees C. This behavior was evaluated by analyzing both corrosion potential variation with time curves and potentiodynamic polarization curves. The polarization curves were determined both in aerated and deaerated solutions. It was found that the corrosion potential of uncoated sample is always more noble than that of coated one. In aerated solutions the polarization curve of a coating-free alloy presents a typical passive/transpassive behavior, which is absent in the HA-coated alloy and in deaerated solution for both coated and uncoated conditions. In the latter polarization curves, the current density continuously increases with the increase of the potential. The corrosion rate determined from polarization curves is higher for HA-coated alloys, but it still can be considered negligible (less than 1 microA/cm(2)).

Titanium alloys are hoped to be used much more for applications as implant materials in the medical and dental fields because of their basic properties, such as biocompatibility, corrosion resistance and specific strength compared with other metallic implant materials. Thus, the Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy that has recently been developed for biomedical use, that is, primarily developed for orthopaedic use, is to be studied in this paper, for application in dental implants. The biocompatibility test in vivo was carried out in dogs and the osseointegration was verified through histological analysis of the samples of the Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy with and without hydroxyapatite coating that were inserted in the alveoli. Within the controlled conditions the samples did not show any toxic effects on the cells.