Novel Catalytic Ceramic Conversion Treatment of Ti6Al4V for Improved Tribological and Antibacterial Properties for Biomedical Applications

Titanium oxide layers were produced via a novel catalytic ceramic conversion treatment (CCCT, C3T) on Ti-6Al-4V. This CCCT process is carried out by applying thin catalytic films of silver and palladium onto the substrate before an already established traditional ceramic conversion treatment (CCT, C2T) is carried out. The layers were characterised using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy; surface micro-hardness and reciprocating tribological performance was assessed; antibacterial performance was also assessed with S. aureus. This CCCT has been shown to increase the oxide thickness from ~5 to ~100 mu m, with the production of an aluminium rich layer and agglomerates of silver and palladium oxide surrounded by vanadium oxide at the surface. The wear factor was significantly reduced from ~393 to ~5 m(3)/NGreek ano teleiam, and a significant reduction in the number of colony-forming units per ml of Staphylococcus aureus on the CCCT surfaces was observed. The potential of the novel C3T treatment has been demonstrated by comparing the performance of C3T treated and untreated Ti6Al4V fixation pins through inserting into simulated bone materials.

Automated summary

A novel catalytic ceramic conversion treatment (CCCT, C3T) was used to produce titanium oxide layers on Ti-6Al-4V, increasing the oxide thickness to around 100 μm and significantly reducing the wear factor and number of colony-forming units of Staphylococcus aureus. The CCCT process involved applying thin catalytic films of silver and palladium before a traditional ceramic conversion treatment (CCT, C2T) was carried out, demonstrating potential for improved performance in medical fixation pins.