On the purpose of improving the tribological properties of titanium alloy through mimicking natural articular cartilage, porous structure was prepared on the surface of Ti6A14V alloy by anodic oxidation method, and then hydrophilic polymer brushes were grafted onto its surface. Surface morphology of porous oxidized film was investigated by metalloscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The composition and structure of modified surface were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection (FTIR/ATR), and the wettability was also evaluated. Friction and wear properties of modified alloys sliding against ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) were tested by a pin-on-disc tribometer in physiological saline. The results showed that, the optimum porous structure treated by anodic oxidation formed when the voltage reached as high as 100 V. Hydrophilic monomers [Acrylic acid (AA) and 3-dimethyl-(3-(N-methacrylamido) propyl) ammonium propane sulfonate (DMMPPS)] were successfully grafted onto porous Ti6A14V surface to form polymer brushes by UV radiation. The change of contact angle showed that wettability of modified Ti6A14V was improved significantly. The friction coefficient of modified Ti6A14V was much lower and more stable than untreated ones. The lowest friction coefficient was obtained when the sample was anodized at 100 V and grafted with DMMPPS, and the value was 0.132. The wear of modified samples was also obviously improved. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.