Abstract
Surface free energy (SFE) of titanium surfaces plays a significant role in tissue engineering, as it affects the effectiveness and long-term stability of both active coatings and functionalization and the establishment of strong bonds to the newly growing bone. A new contact–mechanics methodology based on high-resolution non-destructive elastic contacting nanoindentation is applied here to study SFE of micro- and nano-structured titanium surfaces, right after their preparation and as a function of exposure to air. The effectiveness of different surface treatments in enhancing SFE is assessed. A time-dependent decay of SFE within a few hours is observed, with kinetics related to the sample preparation. The fast, non-destructive method adopted allowed for SFE measurements in very hydrophilic conditions, establishing a reliable comparison between surfaces with different properties.
Highlights
Due to their unique mechanical and physicochemical properties, Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are among the most used materials in biomedical engineering for dental and orthopedic applications
Based on the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation, all the etched samples showed a secondary texture at dimensions smaller than the grain structure of titanium, exhibiting a complex microporous and nano-rough structure
Our work demonstrated the advantages offered by surface free energy (SFE) nanoindentation measurements on surface-treated Titanium samples
Summary
Due to their unique mechanical and physicochemical properties, Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are among the most used materials in biomedical engineering for dental and orthopedic applications. In the context of the recent ongoing advances in nanomechanical testing methodologies via commercially available nanoindenters [24,25], we applied a recently proposed contact-mechanics non-destructive methodology for the SFE determination of chemically treated titanium surfaces [26]. This new protocol, based on the elastic contact between a nanoindenter spheroconical tip and the surface under investigation, allows the assessing SFE of materials by measuring the pull-off adhesive forces required to separate the indenter tip from the sample surface in a carefully controlled environment. Samples were characterized under protective nitrogen atmosphere, using a well-established nitrogen purging and fluxing methodology to assess precise environmental control (crucial for SFE measurements) [25,26] and exposed to air to assess time-related changes in SFE, which would have a high impact on the material properties and storage conditions eventually required for their preservation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
