This investigation studies how nano-͑␦-TiH, ␥-TiH 2 , and ␣-TiH 1.971 ͒ phases affect the formation of multi-nano-titania film by anodization and cathodic pretreatment. Nano-titanium hydrides and substoichiometric nano-titanium hydrides were formed during cathodization. A multi-nanoporous titania film was formed on the titanium during anodization. The nanohydrides are directly transformed to multi-nanoporous titania film by dissolution following anodization. Anodization with cathodic pretreatment not only yields a titanium surface with a multi-nanostructure, but also transforms the titanium surface into a nanostructured titania surface. Formation of nanohydrides by cathodization and oxidation by anodization are believed to promote biocompatibility and improve bone-to-interface contact, accelerating initial osseointegration and re-osseointegration.Commercially pure titanium ͑CP-Ti͒ and its alloy, Ti-6Al-4V, are widely applied in implant engineering, such as in artificial hips, dental implants, and orthopedic implants, owing to their excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and neutral interference when modern imaging approaches are employed ͓computed tomography ͑CT͒, magnetic resonance imaging ͑MRI͔͒. 1-4 Titanium and its alloys are covered with a very stable surface oxide film when exposed to air or aqueous media, favoring the bone-binding capacity of titanium-based implants. 5 However, although commercially available titanium-based implants with stable surface oxide films with thicknesses of 1-5 nm have seen long-term clinical success, situations may still arise in which the oxide thickness of an implant must be increased to accelerate osseointegration. Therefore, various schemes have been presented to increase the surface oxide film of implants and promote bone-implant integration. 6-10 Additionally, implants are morphologically attached to the bone by bony ingrowth into the implant surface, which has a porous structure. 1,2 The synthesis of the extracellular matrix and subsequent mineralization in vitro are both significantly improved on porous-coated titanium. 11 Cells may be suitable for not only the surfaces of thick oxide film but also the surfaces with porous topographies. However, porous titania films have been prepared by immersing Ti in an alkaline solution for a long time. In this investigation, a procedure is adopted to form a nanoporous titania film on the surface of titanium bone plate. The properties of Ti with and without surface treatments were evaluated by electrochemical measurements and material analyses.
Materials and MethodsPreparation of untreated and treated titanium bone plate.-The substrate was a Grade IV CP-Ti plate. The Ti was cut into plates with a thickness of 1 mm. The specimens were mechanically polished using 1500 grit paper and then using diamond abrasives to 1 m. The specimens were finished with colloidal silica abrasives to 0.04 m. All specimens were degreased by washing in acetone and prepickled in acid, being processed using 2% ammonium fluoride, a solution of 2% H...