Effects of the electric conditions of AC-type microarc oxidation and hydrothermal treatment solution on the characteristics of hydroxyapatite formed on titanium

This study examined the effects of the conditions for AC-type microarc oxidation (MAO) and the type of hydrothermal treatment solution on the characteristics of hydroxyapatite(HAp)-containing oxide films deposited on commercially pure titanium (CP–Ti). The MAO treatments were carried out in an electrolyte containing 0.2 M calcium acetate monohydrate and 0.02 M β-glycerophosphoric acid disodium salt pentahydrate (β-GP) using AC-type rectangular electric pulses at different voltages and frequencies. HAp formation on the surface of the MAO-treated group was induced by a hydrothermal treatment in either an alkaline solution to form HT-treated groups or a 0.002 M β-GP solution (pH = 11.0) to produce HTP-treated groups. A mixed crystalline structure consisting of anatase TiO2, rutile TiO2 and CaTiO3 was observed on the MAO-treated groups treated with a low frequency and voltage. When the AC frequency was increased, anatase TiO2 became the dominant crystalline structure and there was an even distribution of pores. HAp particles were formed more densely on the HTP-treated groups than on the HT-treated groups. Among the HTP groups, the groups fabricated at higher frequencies contained more evenly distributed and crystallized HAp crystallites.