Anodic oxides with nanotubular structure in pure zirconium for biomedical applications.

SILVIA CERÉ; INGRID MILOSEV; A. GOMEZ SANCHEZ

Troia

Simposio; 11th International Symposium on Electrochemical Methods in Corrosion Research, EMCR 2015; 2015

European Federation of Corrosion

Osseointegration process is sensitive to surface characteristics in the micro, meso and nanometrical ranges. It is also known that the surface chemistry of implant materials plays important role in osseointegration rate.Valve metals present excellent corrosion resistance in biological media. Zirconium present in addition low cytotoxicity and proved osseointegration capability. The osseointegration rate in vivo can be improved with the thickening of the surface oxide on zirconium. The surface chemistry and morphology of these materials may be tailored by anodisation by controlling the process parameters (electrolyte, applied potential, among others).In recent years, nanotubular structures received increasing attention due to the simultaneous multiscale control of surface features. In this work, nanotubular zirconium oxide was obtained by anodisation in fluoride-containing electrolyte on cylinders and sheets of pure zirconium. The modified surface was characterized with SEM, Raman spectroscopy, confocal microscopy and 3D profilometry. The modified surface presents an homogeneous coverage of parallel nanotubes, open on the top (Figure 1.a). However, the oxide layer present cracks and therefore adhesion may be studied (Figure 1.b).Similar results were obtained in both geometries. The obtained results are promising in order to develop controlled surface structures on complex shaped permanent implants.