A Review on Wear and Corrosion Behavior of Thermal Oxidation on Titanium-based Alloy for Biomedical Application

Abstract

The surface modification technique has been reckoned as a potential approach in addressing and improving several properties in materials, such as chemical and phase compositions, thickness, morphology, and structure. Thermal oxidation treatment in air is a modification technique that has been widely applied, mainly because it is low in cost and it can easily enhance the properties by influencing both the structure and the properties of the material surface layer. As such, this paper looked into the technique of thermal oxidation treatment to enhance the aspects of wear and corrosion resistance against titanium-based alloy (Ti-based alloy) for biomedical application, such as for surgical implants. Ti and its alloys appear to be the most suitable materials for implants due to their low wear and corrosion resistance characteristics in body fluid, thus resulting in the release of non-compatible metal ions by the implants into the human body. Hence, treatment parameters should be weighed in and adjusted to attain optimum microstructure towards improving the surface characteristics of Ti alloys.