Abstract
In the present study, hierarchically architectured micro/nano-scale surface topography inspired from the leaves of Euphorbia myrsinites was fabricated on Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy through laser micro-texturing (LT) followed by alkaline hydrothermal treatment (HT). The hybrid (LT + HT) surface revealed distinct multi-scaled morphological features differing from individually treated LT and HT surfaces. Alongside topographical cues, the evolved elemental and phase constitution also influenced the wettability, mechanical and corrosion properties. The (LT + HT) surface exhibited improved hydrophilicity and reduced surface stiffness of ~14.82 GPa (closely mimicking human bone-tissue), attributing to a hydrothermally-induced porous titania-layer extending up to a few microns depth. Corrosion tests in Hank's solution revealed that HT alone couldn't substantially improve the corrosion resistance as compared to polished surface (control). Integrating LT with HT not only altered the surface topography, but also introduced a relatively denser barrier-oxide layer (laser-induced oxidation) that transformed into a stable anatase-rich phase structure upon hydrothermal etching and subsequent annealing. Both LT and (LT + HT) recorded reduced corrosion current densities and suppressed corrosion rates, but (LT + HT) performed substantially better in the anodic polarization regime (till 2 V), with passivation current densities reduced by at least two orders of magnitude. AC impedance studies affirmed the role of an adsorptive nanostructured outer-layer in (LT + HT) towards accelerating the passivation kinetics, while the inner barrier layer imposed higher charge transfer resistance. Also, better biomineralization ability was observed in (LT + HT) after 30 days immersion in Hank's solution, with Ca: P (at. ratio) ~1.4, thereby indicating higher propensity of apatite nucleation.
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