Surface characterization and biocompatibility of titanium alloys implanted with nitrogen by Hardion+ technology

Abstract

In this study, the new Hardion+ micro-implanter technology was used to modify surface properties of biomedical pure titanium (CP-Ti) and Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy by implantation of nitrogen ions. This process is based on the use of an electron cyclotron resonance ion source to produce a multienergetic ion beam from multicharged ions. After implantation, surface analysis methods revealed the formation of titanium nitride (TiN) on the substrate surfaces. An increase in superficial hardness and a significant reduction of friction coefficient were observed for both materials when compared to non-implanted samples. Better corrosion resistance and a significant decrease in ion release rates were observed for N-implanted biomaterials due to the formation of the protective TiN layer on their surfaces. In vitro tests performed on human fetal osteoblasts indicated that the cytocompatibility of N-implanted CP-Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloy was enhanced in comparison to that of the corresponding non treated samples. Consequently, Hardion+ implantation technique can provide titanium alloys with better qualities in terms of corrosion resistance, cell proliferation, adhesion and viability.

Enhancement of the biocompatibility by surface nitriding of a low‐modulus titanium alloy for dental implant applications

“…38 This study shows that the rough nitrided surfaces can stimulate cell growth in vitro compared to the corresponding nontreated samples. These results are in agreement with previous works 19,39,40 showing that cell viability and proliferation increased on TiN and TiAlN films as compared to uncoated alloy surfaces.…”

Effects of the surface characteristics of nanoporous titanium oxide films on Ti-24Nb-4Zr-8Sn alloy on the initial adhesion of osteoblast-like MG-63 cells

“…Since titanium is biologically inert and does not bond directly nor immediately to the bone following implantation, electrochemical anodic oxidation has been applied to improve a number of the surface characteristics of titanium, including corrosion resistance, cell proliferation, cell adhesion and cell viability (10). Anodic oxidation is generally considered as a useful method for modifying the surface structure of titanium in several ways, including corrosion protection, aspect improvement and bonding of polymers (11).…”

Friction and wear properties modification of Ti–6Al–4V alloy surfaces by implantation of multi-charged carbon ions

“…The penetration depth of the X-ray beam at 1° incident angle corresponds to an information depth of approximately 450nm. X-ray induced photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) experiments were carried out on a Kratos Axis Ultra DLD attached with a 15 kV X-ray gun using monochromatic Al-K Į radiation applying the setup used in reference [15]. The analyzed area size was 700×300 μm and the pass energy was set to 40 eV at the regions measurements.…”

“…This new process (trademark Hardion+) is based on the operation of a compact ECR (Electron Cyclotron Resonance [13]) ion source to provide ion beams allowing simultaneously implantation of multicharged multi-energized ions into materials and compounds. Multi-charged nitrogen ion implantation was already applied to titanium alloys in previous works [14,15]. A compact mass spectrometer was developed specially to produce multi-charged carbon beams (from 1+ up to 4+ meaning energy from tens of keV up to hundreds of keV) at low cost and without complex optic ion beam systems.…”