Synthesis of bio-active titanium oxide coatings stimulated by electron-beam plasma

Abstract Advantages of the electron-beam plasma (EBP) for production of bioactive titanium oxide coatings were experimentally studied. The coatings were synthesized in EBP of oxygen on the surface of plane titanium substrates. A number of analytical techniques were used to characterize morphology, chemical composition, and structure of the synthesized titanium oxide. The analysis showed the titanium oxide (IV) in the rutile form to predominate in the coatings composition. The samples with plasmachemically synthesized TiO2-coatings were more hydrophilic than untreated titanium. The effect was stable during two weeks and then the degradation of the wettability began. The EBP-stimulated TiO2 synthesis improved the hydroxyapatite formation on the surface of plane titanium substrates. The EBP-stimulated TiO2 synthesis is promising technique to produce bioactive coatings on the surface of titanium medical dental and bone implants. The computer simulation of plasma-surface interaction was carried out to predict the plasma composition, to find the spatial distribution of the sample temperature, and to calculate the flows of the chemically active plasma particles bombarding the tube wall. The flows of atomic and singlet oxygen were found to be the most intensive and, therefore, these particles are likely to be responsible for the formation of the biocompatible TiO2-coaings.