The analysis of thermal and anodic oxide layers on selected biocompatible titanium alloys

Abstract

In the case of titanium alloys, the oxide layers on their surfaces strongly influence biocompatibility and corrosion resistance. To improve these characteristics, properties of oxide layers prepared by various methods on different base materials were examined. In this work, samples of widely used biomaterials, CP titanium grade 2 and alloy Ti6Al4V, were compared with recently developed β‐titanium alloy Ti‐39 wt% Nb. On the samples from these materials, the thermal (600°C/8 hr/atmospheric air) and anodic (1‐M H2SO4/100 V/1 hr) oxide layers were prepared. The change of surface color was observed. The surface topography of oxidized samples was observed using scanning electron microscopy. The thickness of oxide layers was measured and observed on the cross‐sectional samples. The further analysis of oxide layers surfaces was conducted using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The growth of hydroxyapatite for further comparison of oxide layers was realized in Hank' balanced salt solution.