Theoretical Basis and Experimental Means of the Hydrophilic Nanostructure Formation Process on the Titanium Surface by Direct Laser Irradiation

Abstract

One of the most promising ways of periodic and/or nonperiodic nanostructure formation on implants' material surface, particularly on a titanium surface, providing the implants with the desired adhesive and wettability properties, is direct laser nanostructuring which uses only a laser beam with no atomic-force microscope's ancillary needle or masks in order to form surface nanorelief. In the present paper, the model of a nanostructure formation on a solid surface by microsecond laser pulses melting the material is described. It is shown that the typical size of the surface nanostructure formed depends on the laser wavelength, pulse energy, pulse repetition rate, and pulse duration. Within the present study a series of six experiments devoted to direct laser nanostructuring of titanium and copper surfaces was carried out. Besides, the effects of nanoroughness on the contact and sliding angles on hydrophilic surfaces were studied theoretically and experimentally.