| Biomedical implants still need to be improved to meet the demands of the body. Today, several metals, metal alloys, ceramics, polymers and bio-gels are in use improving the life of thousands of people yet there are still major concerns when the materials used in these prosthetics fail mechanically or chemically. The rate of mechanical failure has been reduced markedly in recent years due to improved materials but there are still concerns due to changes in surface chemistry during wear. Mechanical degradation of materials in the body can change surface compositions leaving behind toxic chemical particles, which in turn can cause inflammatory reactions and ultimately result in implant failure.;The alloy Ti-6Al-4V is widely used for biomedical implants due to its excellent mechanical properties and relative ease of manufacturing. Thin TiO 2 films on Ti6-Al-4V implants are promising for biomedical applications and can greatly reduce toxicity. Ti-6Al-4V alloys form very thin passivation layer of TiO2 when exposed to air. This improves biocompatibility but unfortunately can be removed easily with normal wear and tear. The deposition of thicker and more reliable TiO2 films is vital for long-term biocompatibility. We have employed an electrolytic deposition (electrodeposition) technique to coat Ti-6Al-4V substrates. SEM and EDX analysis was performed to characterize the composition and topographical information of the surface. Surface profilometry was performed to characterize the roughness and thickness of the coated surface. Wear testing on the coated surface has revealed the coated surface hardness. Also, in general the affect of the applied current densities to coating of TiO2 and film morphology in general will be discussed. |
