Titanium Layer Research Articles

Cost-effective titania layers over 100 nm thick – effect of annealing on the structural, morphological, and optical properties

Cost-effective titania layers over 100 nm thick – effect of annealing on the structural, morphological, and optical properties

The interaction of size-selected Ru3 clusters with TiO2: depth-profiling of encapsulated clusters.

Ru is a metal of interest in catalysis. Monodisperse Ru3 clusters as catalytic sites are relevant for the development of catalysts because clusters use significantly lower amounts of precious materials for forming active sites due to the small size of the cluster. However, retaining the mono-dispersity of the cluster size after deposition is a challenge because surface energy could drive both agglomeration and encapsulation of the clusters. In the present work Ru3 clusters are deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Ru3(CO)12 and cluster source depositions of bare Ru3 onto radio frequency sputter-deposited TiO2 (RF-TiO2) substrates, TiO2(100), and SiO2. When supported on RF-TiO2, bare Ru3 is encapsulated by a layer of titania substrate material during deposition with a cluster source. Ligated Ru3(CO)12 is also encapsulated by a layer of titania when deposited onto sputter-treated RF-TiO2, but only through heat treatment which is required to remove most of the ligands. The titania overlayer thickness was determined to be 1-2 monolayers for Ru3(CO)12 clusters on RF-TiO2, which is thin enough for catalytic or photocatalytic reactions to potentially occur even without clusters being part of the very outermost layer. The implication for catalysis of the encapsulation of Ru3 into the RF-TiO2 is discussed. Temperature-dependent X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), angle-resolved XPS, and temperature-dependent low energy ion scattering (TD-LEIS) are used to probe how the cluster-surface interaction changes due to heat treatment and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) was used to image the depth of the surface from side-on.

Preparation and measurement of a sandwiched Sn atomic beam source for laser resonance ionization mass spectrometry.

Isotope analysis of Sn plays a crucial role in geochemical studies and in monitoring nuclear contamination. Nevertheless, prevalent analytical techniques for examining Sn isotopes encounter the issue of isobaric interference, markedly impacting the accuracy of the test results. Laser resonance ionization mass spectrometry (LRIMS) can effectively overcome the difficulties associated with the isobaric interference inherent in commercial mass spectrometry. In this paper, different amounts of Sn were prepared on Re filaments by electrodeposition and tested via LRIMS. The results showed that the average detection efficiency of LRIMS decreased with increasing total Sn content from 1 μg to 4 μg, and the fluctuations in the test results among the samples increased significantly. Therefore, the electrodeposition process, as well as the composition and morphology of the deposits were characterized by SEM, EDS and XPS; results showed that the degradation of the samples with increasing Sn content was attributed to the complexity of the composition, micro-structure, valence of the deposits, and the interference of various elements. To cope with the anomalies encountered above, the deposits were heat-treated at 600 °C in a hydrogen atmosphere to eliminate detrimental impurities, like Cl, and Sn was effectively reduced to an almost singular atomic state. Furthermore, a titanium layer was covered on the surface of the heat-treated deposit by magnetron sputtering. Ultimately, a highly efficient and stable Sn atomic beam source with a sandwiched structure has been successfully developed and exhibits broad application prospect.

Band alignment of TiO2 by controling Cl content for high-efficiency perovskite solar cells

By optimizing the growth time of the TiO2 electron transport layer, the perovskite cell device prepared by TiO2 with a low interface defect and optimal bandgap matching achieved the highest conversion efficiency of 24.31%.

Conductive filament distribution in nano-scale electrochemical metallization cells.

We report a combined experimental and theoretical study of the spatial distributions and sizes of conductive filaments in nano-scale electrochemical metallization (ECM) cells. Each cell comprises a silver nanocube as active electrode, a titanium dioxide (TiO2) or aluminum oxide (Al2O3) layer as dielectric, and a highly-doped silicon substrate as passive counter electrode. Following electroforming of the ECM cell and subsequent mechanical delamination of the silver nanocubes, current maps at previous particle locations reveal an intriguing metal distribution in the TiO2, with preferential accumulation close to the original locations of the nanocube edges. We assign this behavior to electric field enhancements close to the cube edge positions. In contrast, filaments in Al2O3 layers show a comparatively homogenous distribution, which may be assigned to its lower dielectric permittivity. By increasing the oxide thickness, the total area of conductive spots in the current maps increases monotonically for both materials. Kinetic Monte-Carlo simulations of ion migration dynamics in TiO2 confirm the experimental observations, describing both the preferred locations and oxide thickness-dependent metal loadings associated with filament formation. Overall, our findings are highly valuable for the design of future electrochemical metallization cells, especially in the sub-100 nm regime, where optimal filament control is of major importance for achieving lowest device-to-device variability.

Blood-derived products can moderate the activity of neutrophils isolated after biomaterial implantation in a sheep model

Neutrophils play a pivotal role in both the inflammatory phase and subsequent repair processes, making their activity crucial after contact with biomaterials. Excessive neutrophil activation can lead to complications, including implant rejection, highlighting the importance of modulating their activity. This study investigates the long-term interaction of circulating ovine neutrophils with titanium (Ti) and silicon-doped layer (Si-DLC) coated implants. Additionally, the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet-poor plasma (PPP), and antimicrobial neutrophil crude extract (ANE) on neutrophil activity were assessed. Twelve female sheep were divided into Ti, Si-DLC implant and a control group. Neutrophils were stimulated with PRP, PPP, ovine ANE (oANE), or rabbit ANE (rANE), and their enzymatic activity and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) generation were evaluated. Hematological parameters were also analyzed. Results showed no adverse effects at implant sites, and all hematological parameters remained within reference values. Ti and Si-DLC implants did not alter neutrophil activity. PRP significantly increased neutrophil activity and RONS production, while PPP decreased activity. oANE reduced enzymatic activity and RONS generation, indicating potential antiinflammatory effects. rANE showed varied effects on neutrophil function. Both ANEs lacked antimicrobial activity against tested pathogens. This study demonstrates the hemocompatibility of Ti and Si-DLC implants and highlights the potential of blood-derived products in modulating the inflammatory response to implants.

Impact of Gas Pressure on the Adhesion Process of Cold-sprayed Titanium Dioxide layers on Unalloyed Metals

Applying ceramic materials like TiO2 through cold spraying is acknowledged as a complex procedure. The intricacy stems from the need for feedstock particles to undergo plastic deformation to bond with the substrate during cold spraying. However, inducing such deformation in ceramics, known for their hardness and brittleness, is not straightforward. Additionally, the underlying bonding mechanism is not fully clear. This study sought to understand the effects of different substrates and gas pressures on the TiO2 application method. We experimented with TiO2 particles and metals such as copper and aluminum, exposing them to varied gas pressures to delve deeper into the dynamics of cold spraying ceramics onto metallic surfaces. We utilized sophisticated instruments like the focused ion beam and the transmission electron microscope to scrutinize the interfacial structures of TiO2 particles with pure copper (C1020) as well as pure aluminum (AA1050). The data revealed that as we adjusted the gas pressure from 0.7 to 3.0 MPa, there was a corresponding increase in the coating\'s bond strength, registering between 1.52 to 3.46 MPa for C1020 and 0.45 to 4.15 MPa for AA1050. An ultra-thin amorphous oxide layer, under 5 nm in thickness, was detected at the juncture of TiO2 with both metals. The shift in process gas pressure emerged as a pivotal element affecting the bond strength of the TiO2 layer.

Investigation of Hafnium Thin Films for Design of TES Microcalorimeters.

Hafnium is a superconductor with a transition temperature slightly above 100 mK. This makes it attractive for such applications as microcalorimeters with high energy resolution. We report the superconducting properties of Hf films of thicknesses ranging from 60 to 115 nm, deposited on Si and Al2O3 substrates by electron beam evaporation. Besides that, we fabricated and measured combinations of hafnium with thin layers of normal metals, decreasing the critical temperature by the proximity effect. The critical temperature of the studied films varied from 56 to 302 mK. We have observed a significant change in the critical temperature of some films over time, which we propose to prevent by covering hafnium films with a thin layer of titanium.

Nanostructure-performance relationships in titania-only electrodes for the selective electrocatalytic hydrogenation of oxalic acid

The preparation of robust and selective hydrogenation electrodes not based on critical raw materials is a relevant goal for the development of sustainable electrocatalytic processes. Oxalic acid is an emerging intermediate produced from CO2 that can be used to produce valuable, added-value monomers for high-performance polymers by selective electrocatalytic reduction. We demonstrated that with the rapid breakdown anodization (RBA) method, superior-performance TiO2-only electrodes can be directly prepared with a fast and low-cost procedure. The electrodes were based on a conductive Ti substrate, used to generate a roughened titania layer by RBA characterized by an ordered array of vertically aligned TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) on top of them and partially reduced TiO2-x nanoparticles stabilized by the interaction with the NTs layer. In addition, the preparation method leads to highly nanoporous NTs. The electrodes obtained by RBA at 60 V led to the best Faradaic efficiency (FE) to glycolic acid (86 %) and oxalic conversion (48 %) at −0.8 V vs. RHE, superior to the existing literature on TiO2-only electrodes at room temperature. The NTs structural features, such as length and surface roughness, were calculated by AFM and linearly correlated with the oxalic acid conversion and the electrochemical active surface area (ECSA). Additionally, the ECSA was found to be correlated with selectivity, indicating the complex interrelations between the NT nanostructure and performance. This finding emphasizes the importance of controlling the nanostructure as a critical factor in tuning the selectivity toward glyoxylic acid or glycolic acid.

Application of Pulse Techniques for the Electropolishing of Titanium and Gold Alloys in Deep Eutectic Solvents

Electropolishing is widely used industrially to create smooth and bright surface finishings. This technique is particularly relevant for components with complex geometries, especially in the onset of additive manufacturing. (1, 2) As E. J. Taylor showed for different types of materials, pulse techniques can be used to control the surface modification and drive the electrochemical process towards a specific desired result. (3)The changes in the surface layers and concentration profiles caused by shifts in polarization lead to results difficult to attain in constant current/potential conditions, especially in metals that passivate and alloys containing metals with dissimilar electrochemical stabilities.Titanium and noble metal-alloys are materials used in a variety of applications. The passivation layer of titanium is very difficult to remove without using strong acids or fluoride-containing compounds. In the case of noble-metal alloys, the problem lies in the non-uniform dissolution of the material under anodic polarization and in the cyanide-containing electrolytes and strong acids which are used for electropolishing.Water-free solvents have been described by Jacquet for this purpose (4). Ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents, DES, are increasingly being used to work in potential windows otherwise not reachable in aqueous solutions. Reports indicate that a mixing of choline chloride and ethylene glycol can be used for electropolishing of titanium and other metals (5, 6) and that both dissolution and recovery of Au and Pd is feasible in ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents. (7, 8)Using DES for electropolishing applications offers therefore an opportunity to substitute dangerous substances, such as cyanide and fluoride compounds. This could increase the scope of application of electropolishing in terms of work safety, recycling and disposal.The aim of this work is to show the interplay between pulse parameters (frequency, pulse height and reverse pulses) and the viscosity of the solution. Together with temperature and convection, pulses can be used to selectively control the dissolution of the metal towards the desired surface finish. Using this principle, an average roughness of 20-30 nm was achieved for titanium samples with complex geometry, both under laboratory conditions as well as in a pilot plant. Furthermore, it will be shown how pulses can be used to control the dissolution of electrochemical less noble elements in gold alloys. Acknowledgements: The project is financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (ZIM Program). References W. Han and F. Fang, International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture, 139, 1–23 (2019).E. J. Taylor, H. McCrabb, H. Garich and T. Hall, A pulse/pulse reverse electrolytic approach to electropolishing and through-mask electroetching PF Products Finishing, Electroplating, www.pfonline.com (published on 26.09.2011).E. J. Taylor, M. Inman, T. D. Hall, S. Snyder, J. Mammosser and F. Furuta, ECS Meet. Abstr., vol. MA2017-01(24), 1197 (2017).P. A. Jacquet, Trans. Electrochem. Soc., 69(1), 629 (1936).W. O. Karim, J. A. Juma, K. M. Omer, Y. M. Salih, K. H. Aziz and S. B. Aziz, Electrochemistry, 88(5), 447–450 (2020).A. P. Abbott, G. Frisch, J. Hartley, W. O. Karim and K. S. Ryder, Progress in Natural Science: Materials International, 25(6), 595–602 (2015).E. Billy, E. Chainet and F. Tedjar, Electrochimica Acta, 56(28), 10340–10346 (2011).P. Giridhar, K. A. Venkatesan, B. P. Reddy, T. G. Srinivasan and P. R. Vasudeva Rao, Radiochimica Acta, 94(3), 131–136 (2006).

In Situ Measurement of Hydrogen Absorption into Copper-Coated Titanium Using Neutron Reflectometry and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

We set out to investigate the possibility that a small amount of hydrogen, generated by sulfide-driven corrosion or radiolytic processes, might be absorbed into the copper coating proposed for use as corrosion protection for the used nuclear fuel containers (UFCs) to be stored in a deep geological repository (DGR) in Canada. Hydrogen absorption may have the potential to alter the mechanical properties of the copper coating. This contribution discusses our initial study, using in situ neutron reflectometry (NR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), of hydrogen absorption into a 50-nm layer of copper coated onto 4 nm of Ti on a Si single-crystal substrate. In situ NR-EIS experiments detected no increase in the hydrogen content within the copper layer of the copper-titanium thin film following 55 h of polarization in deoxygenated 0.1 M NaCl solution at pH 9, at potentials ranging from −444 mV/SCE to −1300 mV/SCE (detection limit ~2 at.%). However, these NR results showed that hydrogen can be absorbed into copper when the latter is cathodically polarized below about ─900 mV/SCE, which is the experimentally measured potential threshold for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under these conditions. Although hydrogen did not accumulate in the outer Cu layer, our experiments revealed that the absorbed hydrogen quickly traversed the Cu layer to concentrate in the underlying titanium layer, which favours absorbed hydrogen. This observation is consistent with hydrogen uptake measured using inert gas fusion analysis on oxygen-free, phosphorus-doped (OFP) copper, which showed that in the absence of hydrogen recombination inhibitors (e.g., As(III)), only a small increase of 22 wt. ppm hydrogen was absorbed into the copper after 24 h at E = −1300 mV/SCE, and no increase in absorbed hydrogen occurred at potentials of −1100 mV/SCE or more positive. The initial absorption efficiency for electrolytically produced hydrogen atoms at the copper surface was determined to be 3.2%, suggesting that there may be an upper limit for hydrogen uptake by the copper coating of the UFC, although studies on 3 mm copper-coated steel samples representative of UFC materials will be required to confirm that. This result supports the prediction that hydrogen absorption is unlikely to lead to any failure of the copper barrier within a proposed DGR, in which it will not be possible to achieve such negative electrochemical potentials. Intended future research using in situ NR-EIS to study hydrogen absorption during the corrosion of copper thin films by HS⁻ ions and further studies on hydrogen absorption into 3-mm-thick copper-coated steel samples will help to validate these conclusions.

Improving fatigue initiation life of open-hole fibre metal laminates by laser shock peening

Although drilling open holes in fibre metal laminates reduces weight, it brings potential crack initiation sites. This paper investigates the effect of laser shock peening (LSP) on fatigue performance of open-hole titanium-based carbon-fibre/epoxy laminates (Ti-CF FMLs). A method based on multi-step simulation was proposed for the reconstruction of LSP induced residual stress field in open-hole Ti-CF FMLs. The results show that the fatigue initiation life of open-hole Ti-CF FMLs is improved by 22.1 %–81.0 % after LSP, depending on the structure of FMLs and the applied fatigue load. The improved fatigue crack initiation life attributes to compressive residual stress generated throughout the entire depth of the hole wall in outer titanium layer in Ti-CF FMLs after LSP. However, LSP leads to the formation of tensile residual stress far from the hole edge, resulting in accelerated propagation of fatigue crack. The fatigue initiation lives of open-hole Ti-CF FMLs before and after LSP were calculated by finite element simulation and theoretical method, showing good consistency.

Nanoscaled Titanium Oxide Layer Provokes Quick Osseointegration on 3D-Printed Dental Implants: A Domino Effect Induced by Hydrophilic Surface.

Three-dimensional printing is a revolutionary strategy to fabricate dental implants. Especially, 3D-printed dental implants modified with nanoscaled titanium oxide layer (H-SLM) have impressively shown quick osseointegration, but the accurate mechanism remains elusive. Herein, we unmask a domino effect that the hydrophilic surface of the H-SLM facilitates blood wetting, enhances the blood shear rate, promotes blood clotting, and changes clot features for quick osseointegration. Combining computational fluid dynamic simulation and biological verification, we find a blood shear rate during blood wetting of the hydrophilic H-SLM 1.2-fold higher than that of the raw 3D-printed implant, which activates blood clot formation. Blood clots formed on the hydrophilic H-SLM demonstrate anti-inflammatory and pro-osteogenesis effects, leading to a 1.5-fold higher bone-to-implant contact and a 1.8-fold higher mechanical anchorage at the early stage of osseointegration. This mechanism deepens current knowledge between osseointegration speed and implant surface characteristics, which is instructive in surface nanoscaled modification of multiple 3D-printed intrabony implants.

Fine-Tuning the Nanostructured Titanium Oxide Surface for Selective Biological Response.

Cardiovascular diseases are a pre-eminent global cause of mortality in the modern world. Typically, surgical intervention with implantable medical devices such as cardiovascular stents is deployed to reinstate unobstructed blood flow. Unfortunately, existing stent materials frequently induce restenosis and thrombosis, necessitating the development of superior biomaterials. These biomaterials should inhibit platelet adhesion (mitigating stent-induced thrombosis) and smooth muscle cell proliferation (minimizing restenosis) while enhancing endothelial cell proliferation at the same time. To optimize the surface properties of Ti6Al4V medical implants, we investigated two surface treatment procedures: gaseous plasma treatment and hydrothermal treatment. We analyzed these modified surfaces through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle analysis (WCA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Additionally, we assessed in vitro biological responses, including platelet adhesion and activation, as well as endothelial and smooth muscle cell proliferation. Herein, we report the influence of pre/post oxygen plasma treatment on titanium oxide layer formation via a hydrothermal technique. Our results indicate that alterations in the titanium oxide layer and surface nanotopography significantly influence cell interactions. This work offers promising insights into designing multifunctional biomaterial surfaces that selectively promote specific cell types' proliferation─which is a crucial advancement in next-generation vascular implants.

Features of thermal processes and the influence of pulsed heating of surface layers of titanium on the diffusion transfer of dopants during high-intensity ion implantation

Methods for modification of surface and near-surface layers of materials and coatings by ion beamshave prospects for application in many fields of science and technology. The method of high-intensityimplantation by high-power density ion beams with submillisecond duration involves significantpulsed heating of the irradiated target’s surface layer, followed by its rapid cooling due to heatremoval into the material due to thermal conductivity and the implementation of repetitively-pulsedradiation-enhanced diffusion of atoms to depths significantly exceeding the projective ion range. Thispaper considers features of thermal processes and the effect of pulsed heating of near-surface titaniumlayers on diffusion transfer under conditions of synergy of high-intensity titanium ion implantationand energy impact of a high-power density repetitively-pulsed beam on the surface to increase iondoping depth due to radiation-enhanced diffusion under conditions of limited heating of the entiresample. The paper presents the data of numerical simulation of dynamic changes in temperature fieldsin titanium and titanium self-diffusion under the action of ion beams with a submillisecond durationand a pulse power of tens of kW/cm2 and fluence of ions in a pulse 1.25×1015 ion/cm2.

Transient photocatalytic oxidation of toluene vapor via nanostructured layers prepared by sol-gel on anatase particles

Gas-phase photocatalytic degradation of toluene mixed with wet oxygen was performed in a continuous reactor using anatase nanoparticles, home-prepared by the sol-gel method combined with peptization treatments. Titanium (IV) isopropoxide was used to synthesize amorphous titania precursor, partially transformed into crystalline nanoparticles by hydrothermal or thermal treatments. The main oxidation product was carbon dioxide, but traces of benzene and benzoic acid were also detected. In order to characterize the catalysts, the evolution of titanium (IV) alkoxide to form anatase nanoparticles was studied using 1H-MAS NMR, EPR, TPD, and FTIR techniques. The results indicate that the four coordinated Ti4+ cations of the alkoxide induce the formation of amorphous aggregates of polymeric layers. The organics removal by peptization originates thin nanostructured titania layers that cover anatase particles, forming TiO2 homojunction. Photoactivity runs showed that both toluene retention and mineralization occurred at the start of irradiation, both processes exhibiting a long transient. After different times, retention stopped while mineralization reached steady-state conditions. Hydrated proton structures are considered to be the origin of both processes. Under irradiation, water photodesorption from these structures favors both the interaction of nanostructured layers with anatase particles, determining hole transfer to external surfaces and the generation of hydrated hydronium cations which, depending on the water loss, are centers able to carry out toluene mineralization or retention. After the mineralization step, photocatalytic centers must be reconstituted by recovering water, a process whose rate becomes the rate-determining one.

Numerical Simulation of Thermal Processes and the Effect of Heating of Near-Surface Layers of Titanium on the Diffusion Transfer of Dopants during High-Intensity Pulsed Ion Implantation

Numerical Simulation of Thermal Processes and the Effect of Heating of Near-Surface Layers of Titanium on the Diffusion Transfer of Dopants during High-Intensity Pulsed Ion Implantation

Electrochemical Deposition of Copper on Bioactive Porous Titanium Dioxide Layer: Antibacterial and Pro-Osteogenic Activities.

Ti surfaces must exhibit antibacterial activity without cytotoxicity to promote bone reconstruction and prevent infection simultaneously. In this study, we employed a two-step electrochemical treatment process, namely, microarc oxidation (MAO) and cathodic electrochemical deposition (CED), to modify Ti surfaces. During the MAO step, a porous TiO2 (pTiO2) layer with a surface roughness of approximately 2.0 μm was generated on the Ti surface, and in the CED step, Cu was deposited onto the pTiO2 layer on the Ti surface, forming Cu@pTiO2. Cu@pTiO2 exhibited a similar structure, adhesion strength, and crystal phase to pTiO2. Moreover, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the presence of Cu in Cu@pTiO2 at an approximate concentration of 1.0 atom %. Cu@pTiO2 demonstrated a sustained release of Cu ions for a minimum of 28 days in a simulated in vivo environment. In vitro experiments revealed that Cu@pTiO2 effectively eradicated approximately 99% of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and inhibited biofilm formation, in contrast to the Ti and pTiO2 surfaces. Moreover, Cu@pTiO2 supported the proliferation of osteoblast-like cells at a rate comparable to that observed on the Ti and pTiO2 surfaces. Similar to pTiO2, Cu@pTiO2 promoted the calcification of osteoblast-like cells compared with Ti. In summary, we successfully conferred antibacterial and pro-osteogenic activities to Ti surfaces without inducing cytotoxic effects or structural and mechanical alterations in pTiO2 through the application of MAO and CED processes. Moreover, we found that the pTiO2 layer promoted bacterial growth and biofilm formation more effectively than the Ti surface, highlighting the potential drawbacks of rough and porous surfaces. Our findings provide fundamental insights into the surface design of Ti-based medical devices for bone reconstruction and infection prevention.

On the post-impact fatigue behavior and theoretical life prediction of CF/PEEK-titanium hybrid laminates using an energy dissipation approach

This paper aims to illustrate the effect of the impact damage on fatigue behavior of CF/PEEK-titanium hybrid laminates. To achieve this end, a fatigue life model was proposed to predict the S–N curves of the laminates at various initial impact energy levels and stress ratios based on the energy dissipation approach. The energy dissipation behavior of the laminates during fatigue loading under different experimental conditions was analyzed through a large amount of post-impact fatigue tests, and the correlation between the initial impact damage and the total fatigue dissipation energy was determined. The full-field axial strain distribution of the titanium layer on the impacted side of the laminate was characterized in terms of initial impact energy level and maximum stress using digital image correlation, and then the post-impact fatigue failure mechanism of CF/PEEK-Ti hybrid laminates was summarized. Finally, the validity of the proposed model was verified by fatigue tests under other conditions of stress ratio and impact energy level. It is worth mentioning that the proposed model is also applicable to other types of FMLs, and can accurately predict the residual fatigue life of laminates after impact with only one set of S–N curve data.

Enhancing adhesive bond strength of CFRP/titanium joints through NaOH anodising and resin pre-coating treatments with optimised anodising conditions

Adhesively Bonded Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) and titanium alloy have been extensively used as a hybrid structure in modern aircrafts due to their excellent combination of mechanical properties and chemical stabilities. This study utilised NaOH anodising method to create micro-rough titanium surfaces for enhancing adhesive bonding between titanium alloy and CFRP laminates. A special and simple technique named Resin Pre-Coating (RPC) was also employed to improve the surface wetting of anodised titanium and grinded CFRP substrates. The influences of anodising temperature and duration on the surface morphology, wettability and adhesive bond strength were investigated. The single lap shear test results showed that the bond strength of specimens anodised at 20 °C for 15 min improved by 135.9% and 95.4%, respectively, in comparison with that of acid pickled and grinded specimens (without RPC treatment). Although increasing the anodising temperature and duration produced rougher titanium surfaces, the adhesively bonded joints were not strong enough due to relatively friable titanium oxide layers.