Bioglass Ti coatings: Influence of thermal annealing on the evolution of calcium phosphate formation, phase and morphology

Abstract

Bioglass films were prepared on Ti disks used for dental implants using very simple sol-gel synthesis and dip-coating process. The influence of annealing temperatures, 37 °C and 600 °C, on the surface morphology and chemical composition was investigated using SEM, AFM, DRIFT and XPS techniques. Biocompatible calcium phosphate phases were successfully formed when the disks were kept in contact with simulated biological fluid at three different immersion times: 7, 24 and 160 h. For the films annealed at 37 °C calcium phosphate was formed which was confirmed through the analysis of the intensity ratios of P-O, Ti-O-Ti and Si-O absorption bands in the DRIFT spectra. Ca/P and O/Ca surface atomic ratios obtained by XPS data indicated the formation of dibasic calcium phosphate dehydrate and dibasic calcium phosphate, revealing a coated material at low temperatures, 37 °C, promising for medical applications.