Corrosion behavior of polypyrrole/hydroxyapatite nanocomposite thin films electropolymerized on NiTi substrates in simulated body fluid

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles synthesized via microwave irradiation. Polypyrrole (PPy)/HAp nanocomposite was obtained using electropolymerization on nitinol (Ni) titanium (Ti) substrates. Fourier transform infrared was employed to characterize the nanocomposite formation. Electrochemical properties of the nanocomposite were investigated using polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in simulated body fluid (SBF, 37 ± 0.1 °C). It was concluded that the NiTi specimen coated with PPy/HAp nanocomposite, has higher corrosion resistance than the NiTi coated with pure PPy in the SBF; however, NiTi was better than both coated NiTi. EIS results confirmed corrosion properties. Also, EIS was used to predict the morphology of the coatings. It predicted fine and compact morphology of the nanocomposite that was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy.