Nanoindentation studies of titanium single crystals

Titanium single crystal planes of different atomic density have been reported to show different oxidation characteristics. The differences in oxide characteristics have further been demonstrated to lead to differences in osteoblast attachment. Investigations of the preferred crystallographic planes of titanium for osteoblast attachment can be used to optimize the surfaces of single crystal and polycrystalline titanium implants for anchoring various prostheses. Nanoindentation techniques were used to determine mechanical properties of two crystallographic planes of titanium of different atomic density. Modulus of elasticity of 128 +/- 10 GPa was obtained for polycrystalline titanium and 123 +/- 5 and 124 +/- 6 GPa for the basal plane and pyramidal planes, respectively. The variation of modulus with crystal orientation was not greater than the statistical variation in the data. Surface hardness values were 2.1 +/- 0.1 GPa for the polycrystalline sample and 1.6 +/- 0.1 and 1.9 +/- 0.1 GPa, respectively, for the basal and pyramidal planes. Curves of hardness as a function of depth (0-2000 nm) obtained from electrochemically polished surfaces showed a sharp increase at shallow depths and may reflect changes caused by oxidation of the titanium surfaces.