Preparation and characterization of novel sol-gel derived hydroxyapatite/Fe<inf>3</inf>O<inf>4</inf> composites coatings on Ti-6Al-4V for biomedical applications

Abstract

In this study, for the first time we have developed the composite coatings using sol-gel derived hydroxyapatite [HAP: (Ca)10(PO4)6(OH)2] and magnetite (Fe3O4) on alkali treated Ti-6Al-4V alloy using various concentrations of Fe3O4 nanoparticles such as 1, 3 and 5 wt% respectively. The fabricated composite coatings were characterized by XRD, SEM-EDAX and contact angle measurements. In vitro bioactivity study confirmed that the composite coated Ti-6Al-4V was highly bioactive and induces bone like apatite formation in the presence of Fe3O4 NPs which involves the nucleus formation by developing Fe-OH groups on the surface of coatings. The corrosion resistance study proved that 1 wt% of Fe3O4 with HAP composite coatings exhibit good anticorrosion behaviour than the 3, 5 wt% of composites due to lower Fe-OH groups and uniform with adherent layer which restricts the leaching of ions. Hence, this finding suggested that HAP/Fe3O4 composites coated implants can be used for biomedical applications.