Reduction in nickel content of the surface oxide layer on Ni-Ti alloy by electrolytic treatment

Ni-Ti alloy has been increasingly applied to dental and medical devices, however, it contains nickel, which is known to have adverse effects on the human body. The purpose of this study was to form a nickel-free surface oxide layer on Ni-Ti alloy by electrolytic treatment for better biocompatibility.

Ni-49.15Ti (mol%) alloy was used, and the electrolytic treatment was performed in the electrolytes under 50 V for 30 minutes. The electrolytes were composed of lactic acid, water, and glycerol with different compositions. Surface analysis and characterization of Ni-Ti alloy were carried out by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES).

Results indicated that the outmost surface oxide layer was nickel-free when using an electrolyte comprising 7.1% lactic acid, 57.2% water, and 35.7% glycerol by volume. The composition of this nickel-free surface oxide layer was determined as TiO_1.92(OH)_1.35 ∙ 0.43H₂O by XPS, similar to that of unalloyed titanium. The thickness of this nickel-free layer was estimated at 6.4 nm by AES.

The nickel-free surface oxide layer produced on Ni-Ti alloy is considered to improve the biocompatibility of medical and dental devices having shape memory effect and/or super-elasticity.