Effects of Alkali and Thermal Treatment on the Ti6Al4V towards Apatite Deposition in Dulbecco’s Phosphate Buffered Saline (DPBS) Solution

Abstract

A high biocompatibility apatite coated titanium (Ti) could be achieved by biomimetic method. The method is beneficial in surface modification by lowering the processing cost and flexibility. However, the bond between apatite and titanium implant is weak. The structure and composition of apatite formed is different from the apatite in bone. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of heat and alkali treatment on the physical and chemical properties of Ti6Al4V surfaces and to observe the formation of apatite in Dulbecco’s Phosphate Buffered Saline with CaCl2 and MgCl2 (DPBS) solution on the treated Ti6Al4V for medical implants. Ti discs were surface modified by alkali etching using 5M NaOH at temperature 60°C for 24 hours. A stable mechanical structure of sodium titanate layer formed on alkali-treated is consolidating by heat treated at 500°C and 600 °C. Treated samples were then incubated at 37°C into DPBS solution for 3 days. The morphology structure, phase changes and chemical composition were characterized by using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD). The results shows that apatite coating in globular shape, a group of flakes was found on the samples’ surfaces that had been pre-treated with 5M NaOH at temperature 60°C without thermal treatment and thermal treated at 500°C.