The Antimicrobial Activity and Characterization of the Cast Titanium Copper Alloys with Variations of Copper Content

Abstract

Abstract The effect of Cu addition on antimicrobial activity of Cast Ti-Cu Alloys against Staphylococcus aureus were studied. The Ti-Cu alloys were prepared with a variation of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 10 wt% of copper. Pure Ti metal was also prepared and tested as a comparison. The antibacterial was performed by killing activity test of colony forming unit (CFU) method with variation of contact time. Optical microscope observation, XRD, and the Vickers hardness test were carried out to characterize the investigated alloys. The results showed that Ti-Cu alloys were able to decrease the amount of bacteria by time. However, the activity of killing of bacteria in the varied range of Cu content did not show significantly different result. The highest bacterial kill ability in the alloy was observed in addition of 3 wt% Cu.