Scanning electron microscopical analysis of laser-treated titanium implantsurfaces - a comparative study

Design and surface qualities of titanium implants are of vital importance f or long-term stability following implantation. Four different implant surfa ces treated individually were analyzed with special attention focused on la ser surface treatment. Surfaces with machine roughness, titanium spray coat ing, treated by aluminum oxide and treated by laser were examined individua lly. Evaluation of the surface was carried out by electron microscope exami nation and mechanical profilometry. The EDS analysis determined the degree of contamination of the implant surface. Electron microscope examination sh owed that the titanium plasma spray as well as the laser-treated implants h ave optimum surface qualities: a secondary and tertiary structure with micr o-roughness of 10 mm and roughness ranging from 0.5 to 4 mm. The least cont amination was found for machine rough surfaces as well as those treated by laser. The other implants showed contamination corresponding to the method of surface treatment. In summary the optimal surface structure with the lea st contamination was found for the laser-treated titanium surface. Similar surface purity was found for the machine rough surfaces. An optimal structu re was also achieved by the titanium plasma spray method, however, at the c ost of surface purity. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.