Preparation of bioactive amorphous-like titanium oxide layer on titanium by plasma oxidation treatment

The effectiveness of titanium plates with Ar and oxygen plasma treatment in producing a biocompatible layer between the plate and bone tissue has been investigated. An amorphous-like oxide layer was found to form on the surface of the titanium bone plate after oxygen plasma treatment. Oxygen and titanium bonding states were observed for the titanium surface following plasma oxidation. Furthermore, nano-(α + rutile-TiO2) were formed on the amorphous-like oxide layer following glow-discharging. Surface cleaning and oxidation modification by plasma treatments thus are believed to improve the biocompatibility and tissue healing. Furthermore, glow-discharging not only generates a nanostructural oxide layer, but also converts the alloy microstructure into a nanostructured oxide surface, increasing the alloy biocompatibility.