Electrophoretic deposition of alumina on Ti-6 Al-7 Nb alloy

Abstract EN

Background: The clinical success of implants has been achieved not only because of the mechanical strength or excellent biocompatibility of the implant material but also because of other characteristics such as surface properties.

This study was done to investigate the optimum conditions for the electrophoresis deposition of alumina on Ti6Al7Nb alloy.

Materials and methods : Electrophoretic Deposition technique (EPD) was used to obtain a uniform coating of Alumina on Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy with different applied voltage and at different time.

Specimens weighting and thickness measurement of coated layer was performed for all specimens.

For examination of the changes occurred on the surface, structural analysis beside morphological investigations were carried out on the modified surfaces of the Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy using X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Results : the result shows that the coating thickness and the weight of the coated film were increased with increasing of the time and with increasing of the applied voltage.

Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy specimens coated with alumina shows rough surface with large number of porosity, no cracks appear on the surface of all specimens.

The XRD patterns of Ti-6Al- 7Nb alloy specimen coated with alumina shows the domination of the γAL2O3 phase with presence of αAL2O3 phase.

The pattern indicated that the surface of the specimen is well covered with alumina layer.

Conclusion : the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is a good alternative coating technique for dental implant since the thickness and surface topography of coating layer can be controlled by time, applied voltage and particles size distribution.