Abstract
Surface modification of titanium alloys expands the range of their applicability in medicine, particularly in the form of various implants. Present work reports the results of the electrochemical formation of self-ordered oxide nanotubes on Ti13Nb13Zr alloy. Due to its relatively low Young modulus (77–79 GPa) this alloy can be attractive material for orthopedic application. The experiments were conducted in the (NH4)2SO4 + NH4F electrolyte at room temperature. Anodization of the alloy samples was carried out for 2 h under variable external potential U (in the range from 10 to 45 V) and the current versus time transients were recorded. Obtained surface morphology was investigated by the scanning electron microscopy and the X-ray techniques. The morphological parameters of the obtained nanotubes such as the inner (din) and outer (dout) diameters were determined. The tubes diameter dependence on the voltage of anodization process was derived. The dependence d[nm] = f(U)[V] was established at constant temperature 25 °C. It provides the basis for controlled oxide nanotubes layer growth. It was also demonstrated that these nanotubes exhibit photocatalytic activity.
Highlights
During oxidation of a number of metals, the formation of one-dimensional nanostructure of the oxide layer having the shape of nanotubes has been observed
Oxide nanotubes formation on Ti can be obtained in the course of the electrochemical anodization process during which the size and shape of nanotubular arrays may be controlled to a large extend
The elastic modulus for Ti is about 100 GPa, while that of the human bones may vary between 2 and 30 GPa. This problem can be somehow avoided by the addition of alloying elements to titanium, which may decrease the elastic modulus of the alloy
Summary
During oxidation of a number of metals, the formation of one-dimensional nanostructure of the oxide layer having the shape of nanotubes has been observed. Tsuchiya et al [10] studied the HAp formation on different TiO2 nanotube layers in SBF solutions. They confirmed that the presence of nanotubes (NT’s) on metal surface enhances the formation of hydroxyapatite layer. They found that hydroxyapatite growth was vertical with increased bond strength of the coating These experiments may suggest that by influencing nanotubes reactivity with ions in the solution one may facilitate the process of HAp formation which in all cases had something to do with the charge transfer. The process of formation of TiO2 nanotubes on this alloy was investigated by Stróż et al [17, 18] and Ossowska et al [19]. – third, to find out if the presence of Nb or Zr oxides in NT’s layer may influence its photocatalytic activity, so characteristic for pure TiO2
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