Environmental degradation of titanium alloy in artificial saliva

The titanium and its alloys are potentially prone to hydrogen embrittlement, including those proposed for dental implants. The research has been aimed to assess a susceptibility to environment-enhanced degradation of the Ti-13Zr-13Nb alloy in artificial saliva with or without hydrofluoric acid, subject or not to cathodic polarisation. The results have shown that even if artificial saliva is safe environment, both cathodic polarization and cathodic current result in brittle cracking. Either hydride-related embrittlement or fluoride-related stress corrosion cracking are considered as potential sources.