Surface characteristics of HA coating and micro-pore formation on the Ti-25Nb-xHf alloys for dental materials.

Abstract

Micro-pore formation on titanium surface can increase the adhesion strength with increment of surface area, and hydroxyapatite is effective coating materials as a main chemical constituent of bone tissue for biomedical field. The aim of this study was to investigate the surface characteristics of HA coating and micro-pore formation on the Ti-25Nb-xHf alloys for dental materials. The Ti-25Nb-xHf alloys consisted of (0 and 7) wt.% Hf contents which were manufactured by vacuum arc-melting furnace. The homogenization was performed at 1000 degrees C for 12 h and water quenched. Anodization was carried out using an electrochemical method in 1 M H3PO4 electrolyte. The HA films were deposited by plasma sputtering method. The microstructures of alloys were transformed from α" phase to β phase by addition of Hf element, and needle-like structures were translated to an equiaxed structure as Hf content increased. The peaks of anatase and rutile showed on the anodized surface of these alloys. The number of micro-pore decreased, with presence of Hf content increased, whereas size of micro-pore increased. Anodized surface was covered with HA particles at surface and in holes. Contact angle value of HA coating on anodized surface was lower than that of non-coating surface.