Abstract
Surface treatment of metallic materials prior to the application of polymer coatings plays an important role in providing improved surface features and enhanced corrosion protection. In the current investigation, we aimed to evaluate the effect of surface treatment of newly developed TiNbZr (TNZ) alloys on the surface characteristics, including the surface topography, morphology, hydrophobicity and adhesion strength of subsequent poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) coatings. The surface morphology, chemical composition, and surface roughness of both treated and coated alloys were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and optical profilometry, respectively. The adhesion strength of the coating was measured using a micro scratch machine. Furthermore, we also evaluated the performance of electrochemically synthesized PEDOT coatings on surface-treated TNZ alloys in terms of the surface protective performance in simulated body fluid (SBF) and in vitro bioactivity in osteoblast MG63 cells. Surface analysis findings indicated that the nature of the PEDOT coating (surface morphology, topography, wettability and adhesion strength) was intensely altered, while the surface treatment performed before electrodeposition facilitated the overall performance of PEDOT coatings as implant coating materials. The obtained corrosion studies confirmed the enhanced corrosion protection performance of PEDOT coatings on treated TNZ substrates. In vitro cell culture studies validated the improved cell adhesion and proliferation rate, further highlighting the important role of surface treatment before electrodeposition.
Highlights
Titanium (Ti) and its alloys have been the subject of widespread research owing to their desired properties, such as reasonable speci c strength, signi cant ductility, good biocompatibility and better corrosion resistance compared to stainless steel and Co alloys.[1]
Stango et al have investigated the effect of laser texturing on the adhesion strength of hydroxyapatite coatings on Ti-6Al-4V implant and found that increased surface roughness result in the easier incursion and lead to better grip to hold the other molecules on the Ti implant surface.[34]
The in uence of surface treatment on the surface wettability of the TNZ samples was investigated by measuring the contact angles of two different liquids and the results are shown in Fig. 3(a and b)
Summary
Titanium (Ti) and its alloys have been the subject of widespread research owing to their desired properties, such as reasonable speci c strength, signi cant ductility, good biocompatibility and better corrosion resistance compared to stainless steel and Co alloys.[1] The desired characteristics have established Ti alloys as promising implant materials for orthopedic applications.[2,3] one of the main concerns regarding Ti alloys in implant applications is that they fail to interact with the adjacent bone in the initial implantation aCentre of Research Excellence in Corrosion, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Edu.sa; Fax: +966-538604818; Tel: +966-538801789 bDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia cGraduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea dCollege of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. This behavior can lead to bone resorption near the implant material, increasing the possible threat of loosening when the implant is used for a prolonged period.[4,5,6] In the past few decades, numerous surface modi cations and coatings have been dedicated to making Ti surfaces bond chemically with human bone to improve corrosion resistance in physiological environments.[7,8,9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
