Study of Al-SiO2 aesthetic composite coating on the orthodontic metal arch wire

Abstract

Nickel-titanium orthodontic wires (NTWs) play enssential roles in orthodontic treatment. However, the corrosion and unaesthetic characteristics limit their applications. To increase to aesthetic effffects of nickel-titanium orthodontic wires, we prepared aluminum-silicon dioxide (Al-SiO2) as biocompatible layer coated onto nickel-titanium orthodontic wires. Al-SiO2 coating were fifirstly fabricated by using physical vapor deposition magnetron sputtering. Physicochemical properties and biocompatibility were investigated. Al-SiO2 layer were well coated onto NTWs. A reduced corrosion current density and friction coeffiffifficient were observed in Al-SiO2 coated NTWs. Additionally, favorable biocompatibility was found in Al-SiO2 coated NTWs, indicating Al-SiO2, prepared as novel aesthetic layer, could enhance NTWs Physicochemical properties without cytotoxicity, and had great potential for NTWs surface modifification.