The Effect of Ion-Beam Treatment on the Mechanical, Morphological, and Biocompatible Properties of Titanium Medical Products

Abstract

A technique for the formation of the quasi-porous structure of a Ti surface with craters that are formed by helium blistering was developed. It was found that the quasi-pores with a size of 10–50 μm were formed on the Ti surface because of flaking and exfoliation of blister domes under the implantation of He⁺ ions with an accelerating voltage of 100–200 kV and implantation fluence of 6 × 10¹⁷–6 × 10⁸ cm^–2. A subsequent irradiation with Ar⁺ ions in a carbon dioxide medium led to an increase in the microhardness of the quasi-porous Ti by 20–30%. The maximum increase in the microhardness was observed for the Ar⁺ ion fluence of 2 × 10¹⁶ cm^–2. It was shown that the fatigue strength of the Ti with the quasi-porous surface that was formed by the He⁺ implantation depended on the fluence of Ar⁺ ions and also had the maximum value at the fluence of 2 × 10¹⁶ cm^–2. The results obtained are explained by ion-induced modification of the structure and composition of the surface layers. In vivo experiments showed that the Ti implants with double implantation of He⁺ and Ar⁺ ions had enhanced biocompatibility and high osseointegration capacity of the surface.