The mixing of titanium overlayers with hydroxyapatite (HA) substrates via ion irradiation has been demonstrated. Analysis via secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) indicates an interfacial broadening of titanium and calcium of the implanted sample compared to that of the unimplanted sample. Attendant to the observed ion beam mixing of titanium into the HA, the oxygen signal of the titanium overlayer increases as a result of ion irradiation. It is supposed that this change is evident of diffusion through the metal layer and possibly from titania formation at the free surface and perovskite formation at the film/substrate interface. This possibility is consistent with thermodynamic predictions. Additionally, the force required to separate the film from the substrate increased as a result of ion irradiation, validating the continued study of ion beam processing of Ti/HA systems towards the improvement of long term fixation of implant devices.

We have investigated the tribomechanical properties of ion-beam-densified sol-gel zirconia overlayers on bulk zirconia. Ion irradiation of the sol-gel films leads to hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon losses as indicated by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and forward recoil energy spectroscopy. Ellipsometry measurements show that the film thickness decreases with increasing dose. The microhardness exhibits an increase and subsequent decrease with dose. Friction measurements along with profilometry measurements indicate that severe abrasive wear of the film takes place in the first 1000 cycles after which point the substrate is in direct contact with the pin.

We have investigated the densification behavior of sol-gel zirconia films resulting from ion irradiation. Three sets of films were implanted with neon, krypton, or xenon. The ion energies were chosen to yield approximately constant energy loss through the film and the doses were chosen to yield similar nuclear energy deposition. Ion irradiation of the sol-gel films resulted in carbon and hydrogen loss as indicated by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and forward recoil energy spectroscopy. Although the densification was hypothesized to result from target atom displacement, the observed densification exhibits a stronger dependence on electronic energy deposition.