Biofunctional surfaces by plasma electrolytic oxidation on titanium biomedical alloys

The effects of substrate composition on oxide layer properties following plasma electrolytic oxidation under similar conditions have been evaluated for α-cpTi, α/β-Ti6Al7Nb, β-Ti35Zr10Nb and β-Ti45Nb alloys. All oxidised surfaces revealed enhanced wettability, surface free energy and roughness relative to the non-oxidised surfaces. Nevertheless, the resultant oxides differed with respect to average pore size, pores density, layer chemistry and phase composition. The β-titanium alloys developed oxides with a larger average pore size and lower pore density relative to the α-cpTi and α/β-Ti6Al7Nb substrates. Anatase dominated the oxide layer formed on α-cpTi and β-Ti45Nb alloys, a mixture of anatase and rutile was present on the oxidised α/β-Ti6Al7Nb surface, whereas Ti₂ZrO₆ was the only phase detected on the oxidised surface of the β-Ti35Zr10Nb alloy.