Biomimetic coating of calcium phosphate apatite on the alkali-thermal pretreated TI6AL4V / Nurul Hazwani Hanib

A biomimetic technique has been explored in the production of a high biocompatibihty titanium (Ti) apatite-coated. To form this coated material, a pre-treatment on the Ti surface are required to achieve an active surface either chemically or thermally treated. Usually, Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) solution is used in biomimetic apatite coating. In some cases, the apatite-forming on the metallic surface may take up to 4 weeks in SBF solution. By increase the concentration of SBF seems to work in shortening the period of apatite-forming yet the high concentration of the instable SBF solution is not easy to handle. Another potential solution that mimics to human blood plasma was figured out in this study to fasten the apatite-forming. The aim of this research was to investigate the formation of apatite in Dulbecco's Phosphate Buffered Saline with CaCl2 and MgCl2 (DPBS-CaMg) solution on the surface of Ti6A14V which was treated with alkali and thermal treatment. The bioactive surface on Ti6A14V was prepared by alkali treatment using 5 mol/L sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and 5 mol/L potassium hydroxide (KOH) and consolidated by heat treatment at 500, 600, 700 and 800°C. The morphology structure, phase changes, wettability and chemical composition of treated surface and apatite coating were characterised. The results demonstrated that DPBS-CaMg has a great influenced on apatite formation within 3 days. Furthermore, the Ti6A14V surface characteristic produced through alkali-thermal treatment were also contribute to the homogenous bone-like apatite with hydrophilic surface at Ca/P ratio between 1.3 and 2.0 (amorphous calcium phosphate). Thus, the DPBS-CaMg solution can be used as a substitute biomimetic solution for apatite coating at a low processing temperature for bioactive coating of the medical implant within a short time period.