Novel Catalytic Ceramic Conversion Treatment of Ti6Al4V for Improved Tribological and Antibacterial Properties for Biomedical Applications.

James Alexander,Xiao Tao,Huan Dong,Hanshan Dong,Xiaoying Li,Sein Leung Soo,Sarah Kuehne,Ali Abdelhafeez Hassan,Zhenxue Zhang,Deepa Bose

doi:10.3390/ma14216554

James Alexander, Xiao Tao + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14216554

Copy DOI

Abstract

Titanium oxide layers were produced via a novel catalytic ceramic conversion treatment (CCCT, C3T) on Ti-6Al-4V. This CCCT process is carried out by applying thin catalytic films of silver and palladium onto the substrate before an already established traditional ceramic conversion treatment (CCT, C2T) is carried out. The layers were characterised using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy; surface micro-hardness and reciprocating tribological performance was assessed; antibacterial performance was also assessed with S. aureus. This CCCT has been shown to increase the oxide thickness from ~5 to ~100 µm, with the production of an aluminium rich layer and agglomerates of silver and palladium oxide surrounded by vanadium oxide at the surface. The wear factor was significantly reduced from ~393 to ~5 m3/N·m, and a significant reduction in the number of colony-forming units per ml of Staphylococcus aureus on the CCCT surfaces was observed. The potential of the novel C3T treatment has been demonstrated by comparing the performance of C3T treated and untreated Ti6Al4V fixation pins through inserting into simulated bone materials.

Highlights

Due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and superior corrosion resistance, titanium alloys have been adopted for a wide range of applications
This paper reports, for the first time, a novel surface engineering technology to generate a thick TiO2 oxide layer with both high wear resistance and antimicrobial efficacy within a short period of time based on catalytic ceramic conversion treatment (C3T) by pre-depositing a thin catalysing layer consisting of agglomerated Pd (Ag) and Pd prior to ceramic conversion treatment
It was found that the Pd/Ag pre-deposition layer played a catalytic role on the ceramic conversion treatment as the surface layer thickness significantly increased up to 32 times compared with the bare surface ceramic conversation treatments

Summary

Introduction

Due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and superior corrosion resistance, titanium alloys have been adopted for a wide range of applications. Titanium (Ti) and its alloys have poor tribological properties as they are prone to galling. This is mainly because of their low hardness, ease of plastic deformation, and high reactivity, causing strong adhesion and even seizure. The poor wear properties of Ti leads to the formation of Ti wear debris from contacting surfaces. Wear debris can be produced during the insertion of the fixture of dental implants [5] and self-drilling fixation pins for external fracture fixation [6]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion