Fabrication and properties of titanium-hydroxyapatite nanocomposites

Titanium-hydroxyapatite nanocomposites with different HA contents (3, 10, 20 vol%) were produced by the combination of mechanical alloying (MA) and powder metallurgical process. The structure, mechanical and corrosion properties of these materials were investigated. Microhardness test showed that the obtained material exhibits Vickers microhardness as high as 1030 and 1500 HV0.2, which is more than 4-6 times higher than that of a conventional microcrystalline titanium. Titanium nanocomposite with 10 vol% of HA was more corrosion resistant (i(C) = 1.19 x 10(-7) A cm(-2), E-C = -0.41 V vs. SCE) than microcrystalline titanium (i(C) = 1.31 x 10(-5) A cm(-2), E-C = -0.36 V vs. SCE). Additionally, the electrochemical treatment in phosphoric acid electrolyte results in porous surface, attractive for tissue fixing and growth. Mechanical alloying and powder metallurgy process for the fabrication of titanium-ceramic nanocomposites with a unique microstructure are developed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.