Modern structural biomedical implants utilize titanium alloys due to their excellent corrosion resistance, mechanical properties and biocompatibility. An important mode of failure with the implant alloys, e.g., UNS R56400 (Ti-6Al-4V; Ti64), is aseptic loosening. This is a phenomenon initiated by the release of particles from the implants, leading to excessive bone erosion. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively compare the corrosion behavior of Ti64 with and without boron addition in various physiological solutions. In this study, these alloys were subjected to cyclic potentiodynamic polarization tests in deaerated Donor Bovine Serum (DBS) and Lactated Ringer’s Solution (Ringer’s). Comparisons to alloy performance in Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) were also made. None of the alloys tested showed signs of breakdown. Additionally, for small amounts of boron additions to Ti64, the passivation potentials decrease.

Key words: conference papers, 2017 conference papers,   conference papers, 2017 conference papers, titanium, boron, corrosion, ASTM F2129-15, biomedical implant