Corrosion and passive film characteristics of 3D-printed NiTi shape memory alloys in artificial saliva

Abstract

Electrochemical tests and surface analysis were applied to study the corrosion behavior and passive film characteristics of three-dimensional-printed NiTi shape memory alloys fabricated by laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) in artificial saliva at 37 °C. The passivity of L-PBF NiTi shows to be influenced by the process parameters and resulting morphological and physicochemical surface properties. The results show that the defects at the surface of L-PBF NiTi can promote the passivation rate in the early stages of exposure but a slowly formed passive film shows the best corrosion protection. The thickness of the passive film is positively correlated with its corrosion protective performance. The L-PBF NiTi alloy prepared at a linear energy density of 0.2 J·m−1 and volumetric energy density of 56 J·mm−3 shows the least defects and best corrosion protection. An outer Ti-rich and inner Ni-rich dense passive film could be also obtained showing higher corrosion resistance.