Photocatalytic activity of low temperature oxidized Ti–6Al–4V

Numerous advanced surface modification techniques exist to improve bone integration and antibacterial properties of titanium based implants and prostheses. A simple and straightforward method of obtaining uniform and controlled TiO 2 coatings of devices with complex shapes is H 2 O 2 -oxidation and hot water aging. Based on the photoactivated bactericidal properties of TiO 2 , this study was aimed at optimizing the treatment to achieve high photocatalytic activity. Ti–6Al–4V samples were H 2 O 2 -oxidized and hot water aged for up to 24 and 72 h, respectively. Degradation measurements of rhodamine B during UV-A illumination of samples showed a near linear relationship between photocatalytic activity and total treatment time, and a nanoporous coating was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction showed a gradual decrease in crystallinity of the surface layer, suggesting that the increase in surface area rather than anatase formation was responsible for the increase in photocatalytic activity.