Photoexcited formation of bone apatite-like coatings on micro-arc oxidized titanium

A novel method to rapidly deposit bone apatite-like coatings on titanium implants in simulated body fluid (SBF) is proposed in this article. The processing was composed of two steps; for example, micro-arc oxidation (MAO) of titanium to form titania films, and UV-light illumination of the titania-coated titanium in SBF. The morphology, crystalline structure, and bond strength of the MAO films were investigated as a function of the applied voltage (in the range of 250-400 V) by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, adhesion-tensile test, and scratch test. Results showed that the MAO films were porous and nanocrystalline with pore sizes varying from 1 to 3 microm and grain sizes varying from 10-20 to 70-80 nm; the predominant phase in titania films changed from anatase to rutile, and the bond strength of the films decreased from 43.4 to 32.9 MPa as the applied voltage increased from 250 to 400 V. After UV-light illumination of the films in SBF for 2 h, bone apatite-like coating was deposited on the MAO film formed at 250 V. The bond strength of the apatite/titania bilayer was about 44.2 MPa. However, no apatite was observed on the MAO film formed at 400 V after UV-light illumination.