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The paper describes a new method for converting the existing oxide layer of implants of titanium and titanium alloys in calcium containing surface layers. The layers were generated by dipping the implants in a salt melt consisting of calcium nitrate at temperatures of 520°C until 560°C for 2 until 4 hrs. The melt reacted with the surface layer of the implants by forming calcium titanate surface layers. Besides, the thickness of the TiO 2 layer of the implants became larger. Several methods for the determination of the layer thickness were investigated related to their suitability. The micro hardness of the layer and the tribological behaviour were investigated. The presented procedure can be used for generating calcium containing surface layers on implants of titanium alloys even with complicated forms.

Calcium phosphate ceramics are widely used as coating materials to orthopedic implants and are found to enhance initial bony ingrowth by stimulating osseous apposition to the implant surface. In this study, two novel calcium orthophosphate materials were selected for coating onto the commonly used orthopedic implant material Ti-6Al- 4V. One was calcium alkali orthophosphate with the crystalline phase Ca10[K/Na](PO4)7 with a small addition of SiO2 (AW-Si) and the other was calcium orthophosphate composed of 70 mol % fluorapatite, Ca10(PO4)6F2 and 30 mol % CaZr4(PO4)6 (FA7Z). The coated implants were placed in cortical and cortico-cancellous bone of sheep femur for six weeks. Retrieved samples were tested for osseointegration and mechanical strength. It was found that both coatings produced enhanced bone/implant contact rate compared to the control when implanted in cortico-cancellous bone. This study demonstrates that the two coatings have the capability of encouraging bone growth, and hence the potential for being used as coating materials on Ti implants.

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Discs of TiAl6V4 were cleaned and stored in calcium containing salt melt. The characterization of the reaction layer was realized by TF-XRD, SEM, SIMS, AES, and eddy current. The release of Ca ions was determined after storing the samples in TRIS-HCl buffer solution under physiological conditions for at least 16 weeks. The thickness of the generated calcium titanate layer varied in dependence on salt melt composition, temperature, and storing time in the range of 0.4-0.9.m. The Ca content of the layer depends on melt composition, temperature and storing time and was in the range from 5-42.g●cm-2 in correlation with the thickness. The morphology of the layers also changed in dependence on the salt melt composition and the storing time and temperature.