Novel Growing Integration Layer (GIL) method for joining/bonding of metallic and ceramic materials, and its applications for bulk metallic glasses with high bioactivities

This article describes a new approach to overcome the cracking and peeling of ceramic layer on bulk metallic materials. Based on previous studies and our results, we have proposed a novel concept and technology: Growing Integration Layer (GIL) or Growing Integration Processing (GIP) for the coating, joining and/or bonding of ceramic layer on metallic materials. As one of its application, titanate layers with nano-mesh morphology, having widely diffused interfaces from the Ti-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) have been fabricated by the hydrothermal–electrochemical reaction in an aqueous solutions at low temperatures below 120 °C. This titanate layer could induce the deposition of bone-like hydroxyapatite after 12 days of immersion in a simulated body fluid (SBF). The GIL method exhibited not only the improvement of adhesion performance of ceramic layers but also the introduction of new functionality such as bioactivity to the metallic bulk materials.