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Corrosion behavior of selective laser melted NiTi shape memory alloy
Anurag Srivastava1,2, Adnan Khan3, Vasanth C Shunmugasamy3
1Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering, Texas A&M University, 3125 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
Scientific Reports
|June 23, 2026
Summary
Selective Laser Melting (SLM) of NiTi alloys reveals that surface defects, not just process parameters, significantly impact corrosion resistance. Optimizing build orientation and surface treatments is crucial for corrosion-critical applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Corrosion Engineering
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a key additive manufacturing technique for producing NiTi shape memory alloys.
- SLM introduces processing-induced defects and surface-specific microstructural features that can influence material properties.
- Understanding the corrosion response of SLM-produced NiTi is critical for its biomedical and industrial applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the corrosion behavior of SLM-produced NiTi shape memory alloys.
- To correlate processing-induced defects and surface microstructural features with corrosion response.
- To identify optimal processing strategies for enhancing corrosion resistance in SLM NiTi.
Main Methods:
- Systematic investigation of corrosion behavior in Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) for 72 hours.
- Comparison of NiTi specimens prepared under varying SLM conditions (power, scan speed, hatch spacing) within the defect-minimized region of printability maps.
- Analysis of corrosion on distinct surfaces (parallel and perpendicular to build direction) and defect populations.
Main Results:
- Specimens with higher porosity (e.g., parallel to build direction, P-80) exhibited higher corrosion current density and deeper pits, initiating at defects.
- Specimens with larger hatch spacing (e.g., perpendicular to build direction, h-80) showed enhanced corrosion resistance due to more effective passive film formation.
- Surface defect density and chemistry were dominant factors in corrosion response, influencing passive film thickness, compactness, and protective performance.
Conclusions:
- Within the defect-minimized region of SLM printability maps, surface-specific defect populations and chemistry dictate corrosion response.
- Build orientation and surface-specific post-processing are essential for optimizing corrosion resistance in SLM NiTi components.
- Further research should focus on direct passive-film characterization, replicate testing, and Ni-ion release quantification.
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