Electrochemical characterization of titanium biomaterials using the Mini-cell System

The aim of this work was the electrochemical characterization of modified Titanium surfaces for implants with help of the Mini-cell System (MCS). The materials tested were Cp titanium specimens, designed for animal experiments, with 8 mm length and 4 mm diameter, with different surface conditions: one had machined surface, the other was blasted with a bioceramic (GB14+AP40) and the third was blasted with aluminum oxide. Roughness measurements were also made on the materials. The results showed that MCS has sensitivity to detect differences in the electrochemical point of view due to surface modifications. The differences between the materials are small, but systematic. The aluminum oxide blasted material had the highest current density, however due to the roughness increase. The material with bioceramics blasting had the highest chemical activity. The higher activity of the bioceramics treated surface was explained as (i) an interaction between the modified surface and electrolyte; or (ii) the calcium phosphate dissolves in the electrolyte and leaves the surface of the metal, and then the free metal reacts immediately to form new titanium oxide. These results may help to explain the biological effects observed by modified surfaces, in particular with bioceramics. C 2006 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.