Tribochemical Analysis of Titanium Alloys Modified with Tantalum Oxide and Zirconia Oxide

• Grant number: 23/14938-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Materials
• Principal Investigator: Rodrigo Galo
• Grantee: Fabrício Leão Gonçalves dos Reis
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto (FORP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Since the discovery of osseointegration in the mid-1960s, dental implants have been employed for oral rehabilitation in patients who have lost some or all of their teeth. Titanium (Ti) has been the most widely used material for dental implant fabrication, due to its outstanding biocompatibility. In order to further enhance the effectiveness of titanium implants, attention has been directed towards surface modifications. These adaptations aim to optimize cell adhesion, osseointegration, and implant stability. One of the techniques used for these modifications is Reactive Sputtering, an advanced thin-film deposition technique commonly applied in the manufacturing of coatings and microelectronic devices.Among the surface modifications that have emerged, tantalum oxide and zirconia oxide stand out. Both tantalum oxide and zirconia oxide demonstrate the potential to enhance osseointegration and the durability of dental implants, thereby contributing to successful and long-lasting clinical outcomes. Accordingly, the primary objective of this study is to evaluate the tribiochemical behavior of grade II Titanium alloys modified by the deposition of tantalum and zirconia oxides on the surface, with the aim of enhancing osseointegration and implant resistance. Thirty disk-shaped specimens, measuring 13.0mm in diameter and 2.0mm in thickness, will be prepared and divided into three groups (N=30): Group 1 (control) - Grade II Titanium alloys without modification; Group 2: Grade II Titanium alloy modified with tantalum oxide; Group 3: Grade II Titanium alloy modified with zirconia oxide. The groups will undergo corrosion testing, including open circuit potential (OCP) testing for a period of one hour and potentiodynamic polarization testing with potential varying from -500 mV to 2000 mV. Subsequently, the samples will be subjected to surface analysis using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The data will be subjected to tests of normality (Shapiro-Wilk test) and homogeneity (Levene's test) and will then be evaluated using parametric tests (for normal data) and non-parametric tests (for non-normal data).