Fatigue and cyclic deformation behaviour of surface-modified titanium alloys in simulated physiological media.

In this investigation, the cyclic deformation behaviour of the binary titanium alloys Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-7Nb was characterized in axial stress-controlled constant amplitude and load increase tests as well as in rotating bending tests. The influence of different clinically relevant surface treatments (polishing, corundum grit blasting, thermal and anodic oxidizing) on the fatigue behaviour was investigated. All tests were realized in oxygen-saturated Ringer's solution. The cyclic deformation behaviour was characterized by mechanical hysteresis measurements. In addition, the change of the free corrosion potential and the corrosion current during testing in simulated physiological media indicated surface damages such as slip bands, intrusions and extrusions or finally microcracks. Microstructural changes on the specimen surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).