Effect of Different Annealing Temperatures on the Microstructure, Phase Constituent, and Corrosion Resistance of Binary Ti–Cu Alloys

Alloying titanium with small amounts of copper not only increases its strength and corrosion resistance but also imparts antibacterial properties, which are beneficial for implant transplant operations. In this study, two binary Ti–Cu alloys containing 5 and 10 weight percent Cu were produced using an arc-melting process under a controlled inert atmosphere. The cast ingots were annealed at 900 and 1050 ℃ for 2h, followed by furnace cooling. Characterization using XRD and SEM-EDX techniques revealed a pronounced presence of the α-Ti(Cu) phase, which formed below the eutectoid point, along with the hypereutectoid intermetallic phases. Phase analysis, microstructural characterization, and electrochemical testing showed that increasing the Cu content and annealing temperature in Ti–Cu alloys increased the amount and size of the intermetallic phase(s), resulting in significantly improved corrosion performance. This study demonstrates correlation between phase, morphology and corrosion resistance in binary Ti–Cu alloys.