Fine-tuning effect of Direct Laser Interference Patterning on the surface states and the corrosion behavior of a biomedical additively manufactured beta Ti alloy

Direct laser interference patterning (DLIP) is applied on additively manufactured near-beta Ti-13Nb-13Zr using nanosecond (ns) and picosecond (ps) pulses to tune its surface properties. Multiscale surface chemical and microstructural analyses (AES, XPS, XRD, SEM, TEM, GD-OES, contact angle) of those DLIP states are performed for understanding the corrosion behavior in a physiological PBS solution. Increased beta-phase fractions and uniformly thick passive layers of ns-DLIP surfaces led to enhanced corrosion stability compared to ps-DLIP with defective surface oxide. Both DLIP states control the surface wettability, thereby limiting corrosion and metal ion release rates, which is beneficial for implant applications.