Comparison between microstructure, corrosion performance, and hardness of Ti–10Cu manufactured by vacuum arc remelting and selective laser melting

This study examines the microstructure, corrosion, and hardness of Ti–10Cu alloys produced by vacuum arc remelting (VAR) and selective laser melting (SLM) techniques. The microstructural characteristics of the alloys, including grain size, phase distribution, and mechanical hardness, were examined using techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and nanoindentation. Electrochemical assessments, comprising potentiodynamic polarization, impedance spectroscopy, and the Mott–Schottky method, evaluated the corrosion resistance of the samples in a saline environment. The results demonstrate that the SLM sample with a rotation angle of 67° (SLM 67) had enhanced corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, and a consistent microstructure, due to less copper segregation, fine grains, higher high-angle grain boundaries, and lower TixCuy intermetallic phases. This study illustrates that SLM significantly enhances the characteristics of Ti–Cu alloys as a potential for medical applications, yielding superior corrosion resistance and mechanical strength relative to the VAR technique.