The effect of ultrasonic shot peening on micro-arc oxidation results of Ti-6Al-4V alloy

Micro-arc oxidation (MAO) is widely used in Ti-6Al-4V (TC4) alloy for surface modification and good biocompatibility in dental and orthopedic applications. However, it is a big challenge to produce thick MAO layers and nanoscale pores, both of which are crucial for biocompatibility. In this study, a new method called USMAO has been proposed, which involves performing USP as a pretreatment on the surface of TC4 before MAO. The results showed that USP could cause significant grain fragmentation and plastic deformation. After USMAO, composite architectures at the micron and nanoscale formed on the surfaces, and a thick MAO layer with a thickness of up to 30 mu m could be also obtained, which was very useful for TC4 to enhance biocompatibility.