Purpose: Titanium and its alloys are widely used as biomaterials for long-term implants, but they are usually surface-modified due to their weak bioactivity and wear resistance. Laser processing was used to modify the surface layer, and elemental carbon was a component of the deposited coatings. This research aims to use a combination of both methods based on preliminary electrophoretic deposition of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNCTs) followed by pulse laser treatment. Carbon nanotubes were chosen due to their mechanical and chemical stability as well as their tubular shape, resulting in enhanced mechanical properties of laser-modified layers.
Methods: The pulse laser power and laser scanning speed were defined as variable process parameters. The microstructure, roughness Ra, nanohardness H, Young's modulus E, and indent depth values were measured, and the H/E, H 3/E2, and relative changes of all these values in comparison to MWCNTs-coated and non-coated surfaces, were calculated.
Results: The obtained results show that the best mechanical properties of MWCNTs-coated and laser-treated specimens are obtained at a laser power of 900 W and laser feed of 6 mm/s. The observed relations can be explained considering processes occurring on the surface such as deposition of carbon nanotubes, melting and re-crystallization of the surface layer, formation and possible partial decomposition of titanium carbides, and associated changes in local chemical composition, phase composition, and a level of residual stresses beneath the surface.
Conclusions: The developed process can substitute the time and money-consuming carbonization of titanium and its alloys.