Title: In-situ formation, anti-corrosion and hardness values of Ti-6Al-4V biomaterial with niobium via laser deposition

Authors: Lerato Phume; A.P.I. Popoola; V.S. Aigbodion; Sisa Pityana

Addresses: Department of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa ' Department of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa ' Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria ' Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, National Laser Centre Building 46F, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract: Ti-6Al-4V alloy biomaterials have low hardness, wear resistance, high corrosion rate and toxicity as results of release of aluminium and vanadium ions that led to the premature failure of the implant. In order to overcome some of these problems, laser cladding of Ti6Al4V alloy with Niobium was conducted. Three laser parameters (laser power, beam diameter and laser scan speed) were used to ascertain the proper operating condition for this laser process. Rofin Nd: yag laser was used in the laser cladding. The electrochemical study was conducted using Hank's buffered salt solution an environment similar to the human body. The optimum improvement in corrosion resistance resulted to 81.79% when compared with substrate. It has been established that operating parameter for laser cladding of Nb on Ti6Al4V were obtained at: laser power (1,000 W), beam diameter (1 mm) and scan speed (0.3 m/min).

Keywords: niobium; laser parameters; Ti-6Al-4V alloy; microstructure and corrosion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2018.090053

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2018 Vol.12 No.1, pp.23 - 39

Received: 11 Jul 2017
Accepted: 26 Aug 2017
Published online: 27 Feb 2018 *

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