Preparation of Bioactive Nanophase Titania Ceramics by Alkali-Heat Treatment

Abstract

In this study, alkali-heat treatment in NaOH solution and heat treatment, which could form amorphous sodium titanate on nanophase titania ceramics surface by conditioning the process, was employed to modify the structure and bioactivity of biomedical titania ceramics. After the nanophase titania ceramics was subjected to alkali-heat treatment, thin film X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy results showed the titania ceramics surfaces were covered by porous sodium titanate. In fast calacification solution (FCS), the alkali-heat treated titania ceramics could induce bonelike apatite formation on its surface. Our results showed that induction of apatite-forming ability on titania ceramics could be attained by alkali-heat treatment. So it was an effective way to prepare bioactive titania ceramics by combining sintering and alkali-heat treatment.