A novel fine-grained TiZrCu alloy tailored for marine environment with high microbial corrosion-resistance

Titanium alloys, usually known as non-corrodible material, are susceptible to microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) in marine environment. While titanium-zirconium (TiZr) alloys have been extensively studied in medical applications, the influence of microorganisms, especially marine microorganisms, on their corrosion behavior has not been explored. In this work, a TiZrCu alloy with a combination of excellent mechanical, anti-corrosion, and antibacterial properties was developed by optimizing the Cu content and grain refinement. Its MIC and antibacterial mechanisms against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a representative marine microorganism, were systematically investigated. 5.5 wt% was determined as the optimal copper content. The fine-grained Ti-15Zr-5.5Cu (TZC-5.5FG) alloy maintained high MIC resistance, exhibiting a corrosion current of 5.7 ± 0.1 nA/cm² and an antibacterial rate of 91.8 % against P. aeruginosa. The mechanism of improved corrosion resistance was attributed to the denser passive film with high TiO₂ content and the lower surface potential difference ΔE. The release of Cu²⁺ ions, ΔE, and the generation of ROS are three major factors that contribute to the antibacterial performance of TiZrCu alloys. Compared to other available marine metals, TZC-5.5FG alloy exhibited superior comprehensive performance, including excellent mechanical properties and anti-MIC capacity, which make it a promising material for load-bearing applications in marine environment.