Surface characterization of C/Ti-6Al-4V coating treated with ion beam

Surface of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) has been modified by ion beam mixing of thin C film. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that after mixing, the surface film consists essentially of a Ti compound containing (Ti, O and C), TiO2, Ti and C contamination. The composition of the surface modified film determined by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry is approximately Ti0.5O0.3C0.2 and its thickness is about 200 nm. After three months immersion in a simulated body fluid, the growth of calcium phosphate species containing both HPO4- and H2PO4- (probably CaHPO4 and Ca(HPO4)(2)) have been observed. Titanium is found to be essentially composed of the Ti compound after immersion suggesting that both metallic Ti and TiO2 have dissolved. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.