Effect of calcium-ion implantation on the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of titanium

This work presents data on the structure and corrosion resistance of titanium after calcium-ion implantation with a dose of 1017Ca+/cm2. The ion energy was 25 keV. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the microstructure of the implanted layer. The chemical composition of the surface layer was examined by XPS and SIMS. The corrosion resistance was examined by electrochemical methods in a simulated body fluid (SBF) at a temperature of 37°C. Biocompatibility tests in vitro were performed in a culture of human derived bone cells (HDBC) in direct contact with the materials tested. Both, the viability of the cells determined by an XTT assay and activity of the cells evaluated by alkaline phosphatase activity measurements in contact with implanted and non-implanted titanium samples were detected. The morphology of the cells spread on the surface of the materials examined was also observed. The results confirmed the biocompatibility of both calcium-ion-implanted and non-implanted titanium under the conditions of the experiment. As shown by TEM results, the surface layer formed during calcium-ion implantation was amorphous. The results of electrochemical examinations indicate that calcium-ion implantation increases the corrosion resistance, but only under stationary conditions; during anodic polarization the calcium-ion-implanted samples undergo pitting corrosion. The breakdown potential is high (2.7–3 V).