The Influence of Hybrid Surface Modification on the Selected Properties of CP Titanium Grade II Manufactured by Selective Laser Melting

Abstract

The human body is an extremely aggressive environment in terms of corrosion. Titanium and its alloys are one of the most popular biomaterials used for implant applications due to biocompatibility. However, every element introduced into the body is treated as a foreign body. The human body’s immune response may, therefore, lead to implant rejection and the need for reoperation. For this purpose, it seems important to carry out surface modifications by applying coatings and inter alia by texturing to implants. The objective of this paper is to investigate the effect of surface treatment on the chosen properties of the pure titanium (Grade II) samples obtained by selective laser melting (SLM) processing. The samples were divided into five groups: Initial state (after polishing), after surface modification by the physical vapour deposition (PVD) method—CrN and TiN coatings were deposited on the surface of the tested material, and after laser texturing. The paper presents the results of the microscopic investigation, chemical and phase compositions, and physicochemical and electrochemical properties of the tested samples. Based on the results obtained it can be concluded that the hybrid surface modification shows significant effects on the properties of the pure titanium. The samples with the textured PVD-deposited TiN coatings were characterized by favorable physicochemical properties and were the highest performing in terms of pitting corrosion resistance.