Effect of oxygen content on the formation of anodic coatings in Ti-Nb-O alloys for biomedical purposes

• Grant number: 25/11920-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Physical Metallurgy
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Roberto Grandini
• Grantee: Felype Narciso de Mattos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/01132-2 - Multidisciplinary Center for the Development of Assistive Technology (MCDAT), AP.CCD

Abstract

Titanium alloys have been widely used as biomaterials, especially in orthopedic prostheses and dental implants. However, these materials have a Young's modulus three times greater than human cortical bone. For this reason, new alloys are being developed to reduce Young's modulus, aiming for better mechanical compatibility with bone. Furthermore, the oxide layer naturally formed on the surface of titanium has a greater affinity with bone cells compared to other metal alloys used in the biomedical field, making titanium and its alloys more suitable materials for implants. However, a biomechanical disparity persists between the materials developed and their medical applications, compromising the useful life of biomaterials. The objective of this study is to produce alloys of the Ti-Nb system (Nb = 10, 25, and 40%), containing high concentrations of oxygen (O = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1% by weight) for biomedical applications. The surface of the alloys will also be studied through functionalization using the electrochemical deposition technique (Micro-arc Oxidation). To incorporate bioactive elements and particles into the titanium surface, to improve the interaction between the implant and bone cells, and to verify the contribution of oxygen in the substrate of titanium alloys in the anodic oxidation processes, as no reports have been made previously. in the literature on this type of analysis. Advanced chemical, structural, and microstructural characterization techniques, as well as mechanical property tests, wear tests, and biocompatibility tests, will be performed on the new Ti-Nb-O alloys before and after surface functionalization.