Surface activity of titanium alloys contacted with the simulated body fluid

The purpose of this study was to analyze surface chemical species deposited on various implant materials immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF). The investigated materials including pure titanium, two beta titanium alloys and stainless steel (316L) were formed into discs using cold pressing and sintering. The samples were examined using SEM and mid-IR microscopes. All the sample discs exhibited nucleation and growth of calcium phosphates, precipitated from the SBF solution containing calcium, phosphate and other ions. The results have shown that the nucleation and growth of phosphates depend on the alloy composition and become more intensive in the case of the titanium alloy with the niobium addition