Abstract
The existing studies of the effect of ion implantation on the wear, fatigue, and oxidation resistance of titanium and its alloys are reviewed. The majority of the work deals with nitrogen implantation, and rather less with the effect of carbon. Both species lead to a zone immediately below the sample surface with enhanced hardness due to the fine precipitation of nitride or carbide together with dissolved nitrogen or carbon respectively. In addition, the nature of the oxide coating appears to be different from the unimplanted metal: a well adhering low friction TiO film is formed. The combination leads to good wear and repassivation properties. The fatigue properties of carbon implanted material appear to be distinctly superior, the reason, however, not being apparent. Among the implanted metal ion species studied, only barium and platinum have a positive effect: both improve the high cycle fatigue resistance and the former enhances wear and fretting resistance. The mechanism appears to be the blocking of oxidation paths into the metal by the formation of a perovskite phase. The improved properties apply in air or physiological fluids against wear bodies of polyethylene, steel, ruby, or titanium.
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