SURFACE ANALYSIS OF MICRO-ARC OXIDIZED COATINGS DEPOSITED ON cp-Ti
The surface of commercially pure titanium (grade 4) was modified by micro-arc oxidation treatment. A porous TiO 2 coating layer was formed on the Ti surface and its crystal structure was analyzed as rutile phase. Both the thickness of the TiO 2 layer and the pore size on the surface were strongly dependent on the applied current density as well as the micro-arc oxidizing time during the oxidation treatment. When a current density of 50 mA/cm2 had been applied for 10 minutes, the thickness and the pore size of the oxide layer were 1.2 µm and 230 nm, respectively. The thickness and the pore size of the layer continued to increase with increasing the applied current density. The TiO 2 passive layer of the titanium surface can attribute to the excellent biocompatibility and the formation of nano-sized pores may maximize the interlocking between mineralized bone and the surface of the Ti implant.