Fabrication and evaluation of a pulse laser-induced Ca-P coating on a Ti alloy for bioapplication

Biomed Mater. 2009 Feb;4(1):015009. doi: 10.1088/1748-6041/4/1/015009. Epub 2008 Nov 20.

Abstract

In the present paper, we demonstrate the feasibility of depositing a tailored calcium phosphate (Ca-P) coating on a Ti-6Al-4V substrate by using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser system. Different textures were obtained by varying the laser spot overlap with change in laser traverse speed. Surface roughness measurements using laser confocal microscopy indicated a decrease in roughness with increasing laser scan speed. X-ray diffraction studies revealed the formation of alpha-TCP, TiO2, Ti and Al as the major phases. An instrumented nanoindenation technique used to study the mechanical properties of the coatings, revealed a very high hardness and Young's modulus of the coating surface as compared to the substrate. This further proved the retainment of the ceramic phase on the surface. Wear studies in a simulated biofluid (SBF) environment demonstrated an increased wear resistance of the coated samples as compared to the bare Ti-6Al-4V. Formation of an apatite-like layer after immersion in SBF for different time periods further demonstrated the bioactivity of the coated samples.

MeSH terms

  • Alloys
  • Body Fluids / chemistry*
  • Bone Substitutes / chemistry*
  • Bone Substitutes / radiation effects
  • Calcium Phosphates / chemistry*
  • Calcium Phosphates / radiation effects
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible / chemistry*
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible / radiation effects
  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Lasers, Solid-State*
  • Materials Testing
  • Surface Properties
  • Titanium / chemistry*
  • Titanium / radiation effects

Substances

  • Alloys
  • Bone Substitutes
  • Calcium Phosphates
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible
  • titanium alloy (TiAl6V4)
  • calcium phosphate
  • Titanium