Abstract
In the present work, time of calcium phosphate formation on Ti6Al4V alloy with or without alkali and heat treatments was investigated. Specimens were soaked in 0, 5 and 10M solutions of NaOH at temperatures of 60 and 80°C for 1 and 3 days and then their surfaces were characterised by using scanning electron microscopy and thin film X-ray diffraction. It was found that optimum condition is 3 days soaking in 5M NaOH in 80°C. Specimens treated under these optimum conditions were subsequently heat treated at 500, 600 and 700°C for 1 h to consolidate the sodium titanate hydrogel layer. With heat treatment at 600°C for 1 h and then soaking in simulated body fluid, apatite formed within 3 days. However, there were no signs of apatite formation in control samples (without alkali and heat treatment) up to 7 days soaking in SBF.
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