Low-energy Ar ⁺ implantation in the Ti6Al4V alloy for enhanced electrochemical performance in simulated body fluids

In the present work, the surface of the Ti6Al4V alloy was modified by 50 keV argon ion (Ar+) implantation at 1017 ions-cm−2 using an ion implanter. Mechanical testing revealed a slight decrease in the hardness of the alloy after ion-implantation. An increase in crystallite size, accompanied by a decrease in lattice strain and dislocation density, was observed through X-ray diffraction analysis. Surface morphology, studied using a scanning electron microscope, revealed ion-induced nanostructures on the alloy surface formed through re-deposition of the sputtered material. Electrochemical performance of Ti6Al4V alloy was evaluated in Ringer's lactate solution (Simulated Body Fluids) using open-circuit potential (OCP) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) techniques. The ion-implanted sample exhibited a positive shift in OCP compared to the unimplanted one, demonstrating improved surface stability. PDP results showed a substantial decrease in corrosion current density and rate, validating enhanced corrosion resistance of the alloy after Ar+ implantation. These results are associated with the formation of surface structures and increased crystallinity of the ion-implanted sample. These findings suggest that Ar+ implantation in Ti6Al4V alloy can effectively enhance its electrochemical performance in body-simulated fluids, making it more promising in biomedical and engineering applications.