Effect of B4C Reinforcement on the Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Resistance of CoCrMo, Ti, and 17-4 PH Alloys

This study investigates the effect of boron carbide (B4C) ceramic reinforcement on the microstructural, mechanical, electrical, and electrochemical properties of CoCrMo, Ti, and 17-4 PH alloys produced via powder metallurgy for potential biomedical applications. A systematic experimental design was employed, incorporating varying B4C contents into each matrix through mechanical alloying, cold pressing, and vacuum sintering. The microstructural integrity and dispersion of B4C were examined using scanning electron microscopy. The performance of the materials was evaluated using several methods, including Vickers hardness, pin-on-disk wear testing, ultrasonic elastic modulus measurements, electrical conductivity, and electrochemical assessments (potentiodynamic polarization and EIS). This study’s findings demonstrated that B4C significantly enhanced the hardness and wear resistance of all alloys, especially Ti- and CoCrMo-based systems. However, an inverse correlation was observed between B4C content and corrosion resistance, especially in 17-4 PH matrices. Ti-5B4C was identified as the most balanced composition, exhibiting high wear resistance, low corrosion rate and elastic modulus values approaching those of human bone. Weibull analysis validated the consistency and reliability of key performance metrics. The results show that adding B4C can change the properties of biomedical alloys, offering engineering advantages for B4C-reinforced biomedical implants. Ti-B4C composites exhibit considerable potential for application in advanced implant technologies.