Comparative evaluation of the sand blasting, acid etching and electron beam surface treatments of titanium for medical application

Modification of the surface topography and chemistry are commonly used to achieve the desired biological response to the implants. The influence of the different treatment methods on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of titanium is reported. All samples were divided into 2 groups. First group was sandblasted with 250–320 μm Al
2
O
3
at two pressures 0.45 MPa and 0.61 MPa followed by the chemical etching in a fluorine-containing solution. The second group was acid-etched in the same solution followed by electron beam modification with the energy density 8 J/cm
²
. The samples were investigated by SEM, EDX, XRD, nanoindentation and sessile drop method. The studies revealed that all groups have nano/micro-patterned surfaces. The EDX analysis detected only titanium in all groups. The XRD results revealed the presence of diffraction peaks corresponding to titanium. The nanoindentation studies revealed significant differences in the mechanical properties between group 1 and 2. The elastic strain to failure and plastic deformation resistance of the group 2 were determined to be 0.035 and 5∗10
⁻³
, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of group 1. The obtained results of water contact angle for group 1 revealed moderately hydrophilic properties of treated surfaces. The water contact angle was increased up to 80.85 ± 8.3 ° for group 2.