Ti Coatings with Macropores for Improved Implant Fixation Obtained by Electrophoretic Deposition of TiH 2 Stabilized Emulsions

• Published in: Advanced engineering materials Vol. 14; no. 6; pp. 371 - 376
• Main Authors: Mattheys, Tina, Braem, Annabel, Neirinck, Bram, Van der Biest, Omer, Vleugels, Jozef
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.2012
• ISSN: 1438-1656; 1527-2648
• DOI: 10.1002/adem.201100250

Abstract Current implant technology focuses on enhancing the fixation between implant and surrounding tissue in order to reduce the risk of implant loosening and subsequent failing. Modifying the implant's surfaces with a macroporous metallic coating can provide a mechanical anchorage by bone ingrowth and at the same time improves the loading capacity for antibacterial drugs or bone growth stimulating agents. In this work, pure Ti coatings with spherical macropores are applied on dense Ti6Al4V substrates by electrophoretic deposition of TiH2 stabilized emulsions, followed by drying, dehydrogenation, and subsequent vacuum sintering at 850 °C. The obtained Ti coatings exhibit a porous network with an open porosity varying from 50 to 65% and a mean spherical pore size changeable from 50 to 80 µm. The morphology of the coating is easily adapted by changing the powder particle size, the emulsion droplet size, and the deposition parameters. Since the coatings are produced in the frame of optimizing implant technology, a good adhesion between the substrate and the coating is a crucial prerequisite. Measurements show that the obtained tensile adhesion strength is >29 MPa.