Research Article
Improvement Of Ti6Al4V Alloy Surface Via Micro Arc Oxidation Treatment And UV-Assisted Thread-Like Silver Deposition
Abstract
Titanium and titanium alloys are widely used as biomaterials. However, in order to ensure a permanent integration between the implant and the surrounding tissue, the surface properties of these materials need to be improved. Although various surface treatment methods exist, micro-arc oxidation (MAO) is among the most commonly used techniques. In this study, the MAO process was applied to Ti6Al4V alloy using an electrolyte composed of 11 g trisodium phosphate (Na3PO4·12H2O), 2 g calcium acetate hydrate ((CH3COO)2Ca·H2O), and varying amounts of EDTA-Na2. EDTA-Na₂ addition enhanced calcium incorporation, controlled pore size, and altered wettability of MAO coatings. Varying EDTA-Na₂ concentrations produced different pore diameters and promoted rutile phase formation, resulting in mixed anatase–rutile surfaces. The porous structure obtained after the MAO process increased the surface roughness.Following MAO treatment, silver was deposited by UV irradiation using a custom-made photoreactor, with solutions containing varying concentrations of AgNO₃ and glucose monohydrate. The resulting silver structures were found to have a thread-like morphology. Additionally, ion release analyses showed that silver ions were released into simulated body fluid (SBF) over five days. This indicates it has the potential for long-term antibacterial activity. The combined photoreactor–UV approach provides a low-cost, room-temperature, and environmentally friendly method for antibacterial functionalization of the Ti6Al4V surface. To the best of our knowledge, the deposition of silver onto the MAO-treated Ti6Al4V surface with the UV irradiation method has been reported for the first time in the literature. Moreover, thread-like silver structures have not been encountered in the literature.
Supporting Institution
Scientific Research Project Fund of Sivas Cumhuriyet University
Project Number
M-2024-863
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There are 33 citations in total.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Electrochemistry, Biomaterial |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Project Number | M-2024-863 |
| Submission Date | April 29, 2025 |
| Acceptance Date | October 20, 2025 |
| Publication Date | December 30, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025 Volume: 46 Issue: 4 |
Editor