The comparison of phosphate–titanate–silicate layers on the titanium and Ti6Al4V alloy base

The studied layers were composed of two parts: titanate–silicate underlayer for better adhesion and titanate–phosphate–silicate layers for potential bioparameters. The layers with different amounts of hydroxyapatite were deposited on titanium and Ti6Al4V alloy substrates using dipping sol–gel method and electrophoresis. The selection of sol/suspension composition, deposition time and heat treatment conditions have the decisive influence on the layers parameters. The obtained layers should be very thin and almost amorphous.The specific nature of ceramic layers on the metal substrates excludes the use of some measurements methods or makes it difficult to interpret the measurement results. All the obtained samples were compared using XRD analysis data (GID technique), SEM with EDX measurements and FTIR spectroscopy (transmission and reflection techniques) before and after soaking in simulated body fluid. FTIR spectroscopy with mathematical treatment of the spectra (BIO-RAD Win-IR program, Arithmetic-subtract function) was used to detect the increase or decrease of any phosphate phases during SBF soaking. Based on the FTIR results the processes of hydroxyapatite (HAp) growth or layer dissolution were estimated.The layers deposited on titanium substrate are more crystalline then the ones deposited on Ti6Al4V. During SBF soaking process the growth of small amount of microcrystalline carbonate hydroxyapatite was observed on titanium substrate. The layer on Ti6Al4V base contained amorphous carbonate apatite. During heating treatment above about 870–920 K this apatite transforms into carbonate hydroxyapatite. The Ti6Al4V substrate seems to be more advantageous in context of potentially bioactive materials obtaining.