Fenton’s oxidation method was successfully used to synthesize an ideal titania film in situ on NiTi shape memory alloy(SMA) for medical applications. Characterized with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and electrochemical tests, it is found that the titania film produced by Fenton’s oxidation method on NiTi SMA is nanostructured and has a Ni-free zone near its top surface, which results in a notable improvement in corrosion resistance and a remarkable decrease in leaching of harmful Ni ions from NiTi SMA in simulated body fluids. The improvement of effectiveness to corrosion resistance and the reduction in Ni release of NiTi SMA by Fenton’s oxidation method are comparable to those by oxygen plasma immersion ion implantation reported earlier.
Titanium oxide film with a graded interface to NiTi matrix was synthesized in situ on NiTi shape memory alloy(SMA) by oxidation in H2O2 solution. In vitro studies including contact angle measurement, hemolysis, MTT cytotoxicity and cell morphology tests were employed to investigate the biocompatibility of the H2O2-oxidized NiTi SMAs with this titanium oxide film. The results reveal that wettability, blood compatibility and fibroblasts compatibility of NiTi SMA are improved by the coating of titanium oxide film through H2O2 oxidation treatment.
The effects of heat treatment on the microstructure and compressive properties of porous Ni-rich NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) fabricated by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) were investigated. The solution treatment at 1050℃ has little effects on stable Ti2Ni second phase, however, it decreases the amount of Ni4Ti3 phase derived from the SHS process and results in the improvement of the ductility of porous NiTi SMA. The subsequent aging treatment after solution treatment could lead to the precipitation of the discrete Ni4Ti3 phase in NiTi matrix grains, which increases the brittleness of porous NiTi SMA. Porous NiTi SMA presents a composite fracture behavior consisting of a ductile fracture of NiTi matrix and a cleavage fracture of second phase particles. Many cracks existing on the interfaces indicate that the bonding of the matrix with second phase particles is weak.
The effects of H2O2 pretreatment on the surface characteristics and bioactivity of NaOH-treated NiTi shape memory alloy(SMA)were investigated by scanning electron microscopy,X-ray diffraction,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,Raman spectra,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as well as a simulated body fluid(SBF)soaking test.It is found that the H2O2 pretreatment can lead to the direct creation of more Ti—OH groups and the decrease in the amount of Ni2O3,Na2TiO3 and remnant NiTi phases on the surfaces of bioactive NiTi SMA prepared by NaOH treatment.As a result,the induction period of apatite formation is shortened by dispensing with the slow kinetic formation process of Ti—OH groups via an exchange of Na+ ions from Na2TiO3 phase with H3O+ ions in SBF,which indicates that the bioactivity of NaOH-treated NiTi SMA can be further improved by the H2O2 pretreatment.
