Surface characterization of titanium-based implant materials

This study examined the effects of different treatments (polished, electrop olished, and grit-blasted) on the surface morphology and chemistry of comme rcially pure titanium and titanium-6% aluminum-4% vanadium. The structure a nd composition of the surfaces were evaluated using scanning electron micro scopy, atomic force microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Auger micro probe analysis, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Surface roughness val ues at large scales were nearly identical for grit-blasted and electropolis hed samples, while at smaller scales, electropolished and polished samples had nearly identical quantitative roughness values. The surface oxide compo sitions were found to be primarily titanium dioxide on both materials for a ll surface treatments. No vanadium was seen with either x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy or Auger microprobe analysis for the alloy, indicating a poss ible surface depletion. Calcium was present on the grit-blasted samples, an d calcium and chlorine were detected on the electropolished samples.