Effects of pH and fluoride concentration on the corrosion of titanium.

The aim of this investigation was to confirm and summarize the corrosion behavior of titanium in saline solution at different pH and fluoride concentration, and to characterize the surface films and the stability of a passive and aged titanium surface using open circuit potential measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and anodic polarization curves. The results from the electrochemical measurements were related to titanium released after 2-min brushing with saline solutions with different pH and fluoride concentration, that is, simulating tooth brushing with fluoride containing prophylactic substances. Titanium was analyzed using atomic adsorption spectrophotometry. The pH in the saline solution was varied between 4 and 7 with additions of sodium fluoride up to 1.0 wt %. The presence of fluoride in solution was unfavorable for the stability of titanium and led to corrosion and the release of titanium especially at low pH. The combination of low pH and presence of fluoride ions in solution destroyed a passive film on the titanium surface even after aging for 170 h in neutral saline solution. The results do not necessarily imply the occurrence of biological soft tissue related effects even if a physical contact between titanium and the surrounding milieu is prevalent. To provide a general understanding of electrochemical techniques in biomaterial research, much effort was put in the qualitative description of the results, with the intention to provide a broader understanding of especially the impedance method to other researchers. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.