Torsional fretting corrosion behaviours of Ti6Al4V alloys in Hank's simulated body fluid

Torsional fretting corrosion in a physiological medium is one of the main reasons that artificial joints fail. In this study, we carried out experiments on torsional fretting corrosion in Titanium alloys (Ti6Al4V) against Zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) ceramic balls under 37°C in a Hank's simulated body fluid. During the tests, we recorded electrochemical corrosion parameters using an electrochemical analysis system in real-time. We analysed the torsional fretting dynamics behaviours, damage mechanisms, and electrochemical corrosion behaviours in detail using the micro-examinations of a scanning electron microscope (SEM), an energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), a profilometer, and an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS). The results showed that the dynamics behaviours strongly depended upon the torsional angular displacement amplitude and the number of cycles. The friction torque increased with increases in the torsional angular displacement amplitude and normal load. We established a running condition fretting map (RCFM), which included three fretting running regimes: a partial slip regime (PSR), a mixed fretting regime (MFR), and a slip regime (SR). We determined that the influences of torsional fretting on electrochemical corrosion behaviours were strongly correlated to the angular displacement amplitude. Under large angular displacement amplitudes, the corrosion of the Ti6Al4V alloys in Hank's simulated body fluids were accelerated by torsional fretting, especially during the initial stage of the test. However, when the angular displacement amplitude was smaller than 1°, the corrosion potentials and corrosion currents were almost invariable during the entire duration of the test. The damage to the Ti6Al4V alloy was the result of wear and corrosion. The wear mechanisms were attributable to delamination and abrasive wear in the three fretting regimes. We observed almost no damage on the contact centre and only slight scratches and wear on the contact edge in the PSR. In MFR testing, the damage zone extended to the contact centre and the sticking zone (which exhibited no damage) contracted to the contact centre with increases in the number of cycles. Ultimately, in MFR and SR testing, the damage mechanisms were primarily the result of abrasive wear, oxidation wear, tribochemical reactions, adhesion wear, and electrochemical corrosion.