Electrochemical Properties of TiO_2 Oxide Film on ~(316)LVM Stainless Steel for Orthopedic Implants

摘要

Electrochemical properties of metallic biomaterials in tissue environment have a direct effect on the biocompatibility of implants manufactured out of them. On the other hand, improved corrosion resistance is primarily related to the chemical composition of the surface layer which is in direct contact with bone tissue. The paper proposes modification of the surface of the ~(316)LVMsteel with TiO_2 oxide layer using the ALD method, because of the good tolerability of the compound in the human body. In order to determine the optimum number of cycles, and thereby a sufficient thickness of the layer, an electrochemical study (EIS) and corrosion resistance study (potentiostatic and potentiodynamic) were conducted. Studies were carried out in Ringer’s solution at the temperature of T = 37 ?C and pH = 6.8 ± 0.2. Finding out what is the optimal thickness of the TiO_2 layer has a prospective importance and will contribute to the development of technological conditions with explicit parameters for depositing oxide coatings on implants made out of steel ~(316)LVM. Based on the results it was found that the most favorable electrochemical properties in Ringer solution were shown by TiO_2 layer deposited using ALD method with 500 cycles.