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Different applied potentials have been employed in a two-step anodization process, utilizing a 1 M H3PO4 electrolyte and a solution containing this electrolyte and 0.8 wt.% NaF, to control the shape and morphology of oxide nanotubes on coatings for ternary Ti–30Ta–xZr alloys. The ternary alloys were manufactured using an arc furnace, and corrosion testing was carried out using a potentiostat. The microstructures of the Ti–30Ta–xZr alloys had a needle-like structure, and the lath thickness of the α′ phase increased as the Zr content increased. The microstructures of Ti–30Nb–xZr alloys had equiaxed grains. The Ti–30Nb–xZr alloys showed smaller micropores and nanotubes compared to the Ti–30Ta–xZr alloys. The Ti–Nb(Ta)–Zr alloys tended to have improved corrosion resistance with increasing Zr content.

Carbon nanotubes, in different forms and architectures, have demonstrated good promise as electrode material for Li-ion batteries, owing to large surface area, shorter Li-conduction distance and high electrical conductivity. However, practical application of such Li-ion batteries demands higher volumetric capacity, which is otherwise low for most nanomaterials, used as electrodes. In order to address this urgent issue, we have developed a novel 3-dimensional (3D) anode, based on multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), for Li-ion batteries. The unique 3D design of the electrode allowed much higher solid loading of active anode material, MWCNTs in this case and resulted in more amount of Li + ion intake in comparison to those of conventional 2D Cu current collector. Though one such 3D anode was demonstrated to offer 50% higher capacity, compared to its 2D counterpart, its ability to deliver much higher capacity, by geometrical modification, is presented. Furthermore, deposition of amorphous Si (a-Si) layer on the 3D electrode (a-Si/MWCNTs hybrid structure) offered enhancement in electrochemical response. Correlation between electrochemical performances and structural properties of the 3D anodes highlights the possible charge transfer mechanism.

Electrochemical characteristics of a titanium nitride (TiN)-coated/nanotube-formed Ti–Ta–Zr alloy for biomaterials have been researched by using the magnetic sputter and electrochemical methods. Ti–30Ta–xZr (x = 3, 7 and 15 wt%) alloys were prepared by arc melting and heat treated for 24 h at 1000 °C in an argon atmosphere and then water quenching. The formation of oxide nanotubes was achieved by anodizing a Ti–30Ta–xZr alloy in H3PO4 electrolytes containing small amounts of fluoride ions at room temperature. Anodization was carried out using a scanning potentiostat, and all experiments were conducted at room temperature. The microstructure and morphology of nanotube arrays were characterized by optical microscopy (OM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The TiN coatings were obtained by the radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering technique. The depositions were performed from pure Ti targets on Ti–30Ta–xZr alloys substrates. The corrosion properties of the specimens were examined using potentiodynamic test in a 0.9% NaCl solution by using potentiostat. The microstructures of Ti–30Ta–xZr alloys were changed from an equiaxed to a needle-like structure with increasing Zr content. The interspace between the nanotubes was approximately 20, 80 and 200 nm for Zr contents of 3, 7 and 15 wt%, respectively. The corrosion resistance of the TiN-coated on the anodized Ti–30Ta–xZr alloys was higher than that of the untreated Ti alloys, indicating a better protective effect.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the surface characteristics of hydroxyapatite (HA)/titanium (Ti) composite layer on the Ti-35Ta-xZr alloy surface by radio frequency (RF) and direct current (DC) sputtering for dental application. The magnetron sputtered deposition for the HA was performed in the RF mode and for the Ti in the DC mode. Microstructures of the alloys were examined by optical microscopy (OM) and x-ray diffractometer (XRD). Surface characteristics of coated film was investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer (EDS), and XRD. Microstructures of the Ti-35Ta-xZr alloys were changed from α″ phase to β phase, and changed from a needle-like structure to an equiaxed structure with increasing Zr content. From the results of polarization behavior in the Ti-35Ta-15Zr alloy, HA/Ti composite layer showed the good corrosion resistance compared to Ti single layer. The results of alternating current (AC) impedance test indicated that the presence of ha coating acted as a stable barrier in increasing the corrosion resistance.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of the nanostructured surface of Ti–35Ta–xZr alloys for dental application resulting from changes in anodization factors. TiO 2 nanotubes were formed on Ti–35Ta–xZr alloys by anodization in H 3 PO 4 -containing NaF solutions. Anodization was carried out using a scanning potentiostat. Microstructures of the alloys were examined by optical microscopy (OM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Microstructures of the Ti–35Ta–xZr alloys were changed from α" phase to β phase, and morphologies changed from a needle-like to an equiaxed structure, with increasing Zr content. As the Zr content increased from 3 to 7 to 15 wt.%, the average thickness of the TiO 2 nanotubes increased from 4.5 μm to 6.1 μm to 9.0 μm. When the anodizing potential was increased from 3 V to 10 V, the thickness of the nanotube layers increased from about 0.5 μm to 9.5 μm. As the anodization time increased from 30 min to 180 min at 10 V, the nanotube thickness increased from 4 μm to 9.5 μm. The amorphous oxide phase in the nanotubes transformed to anatase and rutile phases of TiO 2 by heat treatment above 300 °C.

In this study, surface characteristics and cell proliferation of mechanical sandblasted Ti-30Ta-xNb surface have been investigated. Samples with three different surface preparations were used: 0.3um polished, 50um and 100um HA sandblasted. Cell culture on the specimen surface was performed with mouse osteoblast-like cells MC3T3-E1 for 2 days. Average surface roughness and surface morphology of specimens were observed using surface roughness tester, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The corrosion resistance was measured using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic test at 0.9% NaCl solution at 36.5oC. The average surface roughness of Ti-30Ta-xNb (x = 5, 10, 15wt%) alloys increased with increasing blasting particle size and Nb content. Cell adhered well on the rough surface of Ti-30Ta-xNb (x = 5, 10, 15wt%) alloys. Cell growth increased as Nb content increased. From the electrochemical test, Ti-30Ta-xNb (x = 5, 10, 15wt%) alloys blasted by 100um HA particles showed lower dissolution rate than that by 50um HA particles, especially, Ti-30Ta-15Nb alloy showed lower dissolution rate.

In this study, surface characteristics of hydroxyapatite(HA) coated Ti-30Ta-xZr and Ti-30Nb-xZr alloys after nanotube formation have been investigated by EB-PVD, FE-SEM, XRD and potentiostat. The microstructures of the Ti-30Ta-xZr alloy had a needle-like morphology, and the thickness of this needle-like structure increased as the Zr content increased. The microstructures of the Ti-30Nb-xZr alloy had an equiaxed grain structure. The nanotubes were mainly nucleated and grown at β phase in case of Ti-30Ta-3Zr, but nanotubes were nucleated at α phase in case of Ti-30Ta-15Zr alloy. The corrosion resistance of alloy increased as Zr content increased, and nanotubular surface with highly ordered small and large tubes was high corrosion resistant. The corrosion resistance of HA coated alloys after nanotube formation was higher than that of the non-HA coated nanotubular alloy.

Ti- x Hf ( x =10%, 20%, 30% and 40%, mass fraction) alloys were prepared by arc melting, and the microstructure was controlled for 24 h at 1 000 °C in argon atmosphere. The formation of nanotube was conducted by anodizing on Ti-Hf alloys in 1.0 mol/L H 3 PO 4 electrolytes with small amounts of NaF at room temperature. And then TiN coatings were coated by DC-sputtering on the anodized surface. Microstructures and nanotube morphology of the alloys were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM) and X-ray diffractometry(XRD). The corrosion properties of the specimens were examined through potentiodynamic test (potential range from −1 500 to 2 000 mV) in 0.9 % NaCl solution by potentiostat. The microstructure shows the acicular phase and α′ phase with Hf content. The amorphous oxide surface is transformed to crystalline anatase phase. TiN coated nanotube surface has a good corrosion resistance.

In order to investigate the nanostructures and corrosion behaviors of Ti-Zr alloys, nanotube formed Ti-Zr(10%, 20%, 30% and 40% in mass fraction) alloys were prepared by arc melting and the condition of controlling nanostructure was at 1 000 �� for 24 h in argon atmosphere; formation of nanotubes was conducted by anodizing a Ti-Zr alloy in H3PO4 electrolyte with a small amount of fluoride ions at room temperature. The corrosion properties of specimens were examined through potentiodynamic test (potential range of I1 500I2 000 mV) in 0.9% NaCl solution by using potentiostat. Microstructures of the alloys were observed by optical microscope(OM), field emission scanning electron microscope(FE-SEM) and X-ray diffractometer(XRD). Diameter of nanotube does not depend on Zr content, but interspace of nanotube predominantly depends on Zr content, which confirms that ZrO2 oxides play a role to increase the interspace of nanotube formed on the surface.

Ti-Hf binary alloys contained 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% (mass fraction)Hf were manufactured in the vacuum furnace system. And then, specimens were homogenized for 24 h at 1 000 °C in argon atmosphere. The formation of oxide nanotubes was conducted by anodic oxidation on the Ti-Hf alloy in 1 mol/L H 3 PO 4 electrolytes containing small amounts of NaF at room temperature. The hydroxyapatite (HA) coating made of tooth ash prepared by electron-beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) method. The corrosion behaviors of the specimens were examined through potentiodynamic test in 0.9% NaCl solution by potentiostat. The microstructures of the alloys were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and x-ray diffractometer (XRD). It was observed that the lamellar structure translated to needle-like structure with Hf contents. Nanotube formed and HA coated Ti- x Hf alloys had a good corrosion resistance.

Nanotube morphology changes in Ti–Zr alloys as Zr content increases have been investigated. Ti–Zr (10, 20, 30 and 40 wt.%) alloys were prepared by arc melting and heat treated for 24 h at 1000 °C in an argon atmosphere. TiO2 nanotubes were formed on the Ti–Zr alloys by anodization in H3PO4 containing 0.5 wt.% NaF. Electrochemical experiments were performed using a conventional three-electrode configuration with a platinum counter electrode and a saturated calomel reference electrode. Samples were embedded in epoxy resin, leaving an area of 10 mm2 exposed to the electrolyte. Anodization was carried out using a scanning potentiostat, and all experiments were conducted at room temperature. Microstructures of the alloys were examined by optical microscopy (OM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The Ti–Zr alloy microstructures observed by OM and FE-SEM changed from a lamellar structure to a needle-like structure with increasing Zr content. The microstructures also changed from β phase to increasing amounts of α phase as the Zr content increased. The number of large nanotubes formed by anodization decreased, and the number of small nanotubes increased, as the Zr content increased. The mean inner diameter ranged from approximately 150 to 200 nm with a tube-wall thickness of about 20 nm. The interspace between the nanotubes was approximately 60, 70, 100 and 130 nm for Zr contents of 10, 20, 30 and 40 wt.%, respectively.