Influence of oxidation treatment on fatigue and fatigue-induced damage of commercially pure titanium

In this investigation, the cyclic deformation behaviour of commercially pure titanium was characterized in axial stress controlled constant amplitude and load increase tests, as well as in rotating bending tests. The influence of different clinically relevant surface treatments (polishing, thermal and anodic oxidizing) on the fatigue behaviour was investigated. All tests were realized in oxygen-saturated Ringer’s solution. The cyclic deformation behaviour was characterized by mechanical hysteresis measurements. In addition, the change of the free corrosion potential and the corrosion current during the fatigue tests in simulated physiological media indicated such types of surface damage as slip bands, microcracks and oxide film ablation. Microstructural changes on the specimen surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy.