Surface modification of Ti6Al7Nb employing pure waterjet and abrasive waterjet polishing for implant application: comparison study

Abstract

Abstract Natural bones in vertebrates are replaced with implants when it fails under fatigue/impact loading conditions. The implants surface roughness is a vital parameter that enhances the osseointegration rate owing to mechanical stability by firm anchoring between the implant and the bone tissue. In this research article, surface modification of Ti6Al4Nb by the action of impingement erosion was executed under two conditions (i) Waterjet polishing (WP) without abrasives; (ii) Abrasive waterjet polishing (AWP) with biocompatible abrasives and studied in correlation to MRR and average surface roughness. The bio abrasives were made in a laboratory that endorses the bone healing characteristics availing 85% hydroxyapatite (HAp) and 15% yttrium stabilized zirconia. SEM, EDS, XRD, AFM and Non-contact surface roughness measurements were used to study the surface morphology of the bio-abrasives and the AWP surface. Experimentally the WP resulted in 73% more material removal rate and with higher average surface roughness Ra by 50% when compared to the AWP. The biocompatibility of Ti6Al4Nb post AWP was found to be favourable with more live cells after performing the MG63 Cell assay for the optimal exp run #11 obtained via the desirability function algorithm.