Effect of picosecond-laser induced microstructuring of Ti6Al4V bio-alloy on its tribological and corrosion properties

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Materials science & processing, 2023-10, Vol.129 (10), Article 710
• Main Authors: Kedia, Sunita, Nilaya, J. Padma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abrasive wear; Applied physics; Biomedical materials; Body fluids; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Coefficient of friction; Condensed Matter Physics; Corrosion; Corrosion effects; Corrosion prevention; Corrosion resistance; Corrosive wear; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemical potential; Grooves; Laser beam texturing; Lasers; Machines; Manufacturing; Materials science; Mechanical properties; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Protective coatings; Pulsed laser deposition; Pulsed lasers; Sliding; Surface properties; Surfaces and Interfaces; Surgical implants; Texturing; Thin Films; Titanium base alloys; Titanium oxides; Tribology; Wear particles; Wear resistance
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-023-06994-3

Surface texturing and protective coating are two prominent approaches adopted to improve wear and corrosion resistance of artificial bio-implants. This study depicts the combined effect of both these processes viz., picosecond laser induced texturing and subsequent pulsed laser deposition of zirconia coating on laser textured surface, in improving the surface properties of Ti6Al4V bio-alloy. The tribological properties were performed under dry sliding and simulated body fluid (SBF)-wet sliding conditions. The hierarchical grooved structure generated on sample surface was found to reduce the coefficient of friction of the surface while the sub-pattern embedded in these grooves trapped wear debris and inhibited abrasive and delamination wears. The electrochemical analysis performed in SBF environment revealed increased electrochemical potential for both grooved and zirconia coated grooved samples compared to pristine sample. The zirconia coated groove sample exhibited an anti-corrosion efficiency of 62% as against the pristine. This superior corrosion property is attributed to generation of laser induced titanium oxide layer and greater hardness of zirconia film on the sample.