Method of surface hardening orthopedic implant devices

A method of manufacturing a titanium orthopedic implant device having enhanced surface hardness and wear resistance properties, comprising the steps of:

• providing a titanium substrate in the form of an orthopedic implant device;
• and
• exposing said titanium substrate to an atmosphere of undiluted molecular nitrogen gas at a process temperature and for a process time duration sufficient to cause nitrogen dissolution in said titanium substrate without measurable formation of titanium nitride (TiN) on the surface of said titanium substrate, thereby enhancing the surface harness and wear resistance properties of said titanium substrate without increasing surface roughness that would diminish the wear resistance properties.

A method of increasing the surface hardness and wear resistance properties of an orthopedic implant device that is fabricated from a titanium material, comprising the steps of:

• providing a substrate of titanium material in the form of an orthopedic implant device;
• and
• exposing said substrate to an atmosphere of undiluted molecular nitrogen gas at a process temperature and for a process time duration sufficient to enhance both surface hardness and wear resistance properties of said substrate by nitrogen dissolution in said substrate without increasing surface roughness and thereby diminishing wear resistance properties by the measurable formation of TiN on the surface of said substrate.