Influence of titanium-vanadium alloys on cell morphology: electron microscopy and ESCA studies

Titanium and its alloys provide optimum metallurgical properties for implan ts. The formation of an oxide layer favours compatibility with the adjacent hard and soft tissues. Research focuses on further optimizing the passive layer, particularly with respect to minimizing metal ion migration into the tissues. The present study concentrates on two alloys (Ti6Al4V and Ti1.5Al 25V) coated with oxide layers generated by different techniques: thermal ox idation, anodic oxidation and sol-gel treatment. Only thermal oxidation fai ls to reduce surface and subsurface concentrations of vanadium, whereas oth er treatments avoid the element in the outermost surface areas of the alloy s. Additionally, the thermally oxidized specimens show impairment of cells. Obviously, anodic oxidation and sol-gel treatment in terms of implantology are superior to thermal oxidation, Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, L td.