Role of aluminum ion implantation on microstructure, microhardness and corrosion properties of titanium alloy

Ti–Al–Zr alloy was implanted with Al at cumulative doses between 1 × 1017 and 1 × 1018 ions/cm2. The results indicate that the Al-implanted layers are ∼0.1 μm thick and are composed almost entirely of an amorphous layer. Implanted layer hardness is dose dependent and is increased by more than a factor of 4 for the high-dose implanted specimen when compared with that of the substrate material. The corrosion resistance of the sample was markedly improved after aluminum implantation.