Laser surface texturing of Ti-6Al-4V by nanosecond laser: Surface characterization, Ti-oxide layer analysis and its electrical insulation performance

Abstract

The development of smart biomedical implants with intrinsic communication system between sensors and actuators, or between implant and patient, remains a challenge for scientific community. Titanium and its alloys, especially Ti6Al4V, are the most used materials in the implant's fabrication. The present work is concerned with implant internal communication printing process and presents a detailed study on titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) surface texturing and their characterization (morphological and chemical) produced by a Nd: YAG laser, aiming to create localized electrical insulation zones, necessary to accommodate electrical communication systems. The characterization of the textured surface was carried out by scanning electron microscopy and the heat affected zone was analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The results showed the formation of α-Ti, Ti₆O and Ti₂O phases on the textured surface. Through simulations in TINA software, the outer oxide layer formed during laser texturing had efficiency above 90% as insulator when an electrical current was applied.