The feasibility of eco-friendly electrical discharge machining for surface modification of Ti: A comparison study in surface properties, bioactivity, and cytocompatibility

This study provided an eco-friendly manufacturing method for Ti implants by combining machining and surface treatment processes. Ti was machined by electrical discharge machining (EDM) in a water-based dielectric in order to reduce environmental impact and improve operational health. The feasibility of this eco-friendly EDM was evaluated by tested the bioactivity and cytocompatibility of the EDM-treated Ti and the commercially micro-arc oxidation (MAO)-treated Ti was used as a control group. Pulsed MAO and EDM treatments were applied on Ti in an aqueous solution containing hydroxyapatite (HA) with the same concentration (30 g/L) under the same voltage and treatment period. The two surface modification processes were compared from the aspects of surface composition, coating structure, and coating adhesion. Furthermore, in vitro bioactivity and cellular biocompatibility of the MAO- and EDM-treated Ti films were tested. Both treatments produced Ti oxide containing Ca and P on Ti, and the EDM-formed film possessed more Ca, with its Ca/P value closer to HA, as compared to the MAO-formed film. The MAO-formed films had micropores and nanopores in the middle region and film/substrate interface, respectively. Pores only existed on the surface of the EDM-formed films. The MAO formed films were fractured, but the EDM-formed films maintained their original structure under tensile stress, tested according to the ASTM C633 standard. The bioactivity of the EDM-treated surface was higher than that of the MAO -treated and untreated Ti surface. After 24 h cell incubation, the EDM-treated surface exhibited a significantly higher number of cells than untreated Ti and the MAO-treated surface.