A new low-modulus β Ti−Nb alloy with low elastic modulus and excellent corrosion resistance is
currently under consideration as a surgical implant material. The usefulness of such materials can be
dramatically enhanced if their surface structure and surface chemistry can be controlled. This control is
achieved in two stages. Electropolishing and anodic oxidation of the Ti45Nb alloy provide a surface
with a uniform oxide layer that is a mixture of TiO2 and Nb2O5. The impact of each of these two steps
on the morphology of the surface and on the thickness and chemistry of the oxide layer has been assessed.
In addition, as a first step toward controlling the surface chemistry of this material, a self-assembled
monolayer (SAM) based on hexadecylphosphonic acid (HDPA) is attached to the anodized surface. The
SAM is characterized based on its wetting properties and by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray
photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Using variable angle XPS analysis, detailed information is
obtained about the orientation and structure of the SAM, its thickness, and the chemistry of its interaction
with the metal oxide surface of the alloy. Further support for the creation of a true monolayer film is
obtained from FTIR measurements on a model oxide surface analogous to that of the alloy. This is the
first report of SAM attachment to this alloy and opens the possibility of monolayer control of its
biocompatibility.
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