Biomimetic deposition of apatite coatings on micro-arc oxidation treated biomedical NiTi alloy

The biomedical NiTi alloy was treated by micro-arc oxidation in an electrolytes containing sodium aluminate and sodium hypophosphite at 400V constant voltages for 30min. The MAO-treated NiTi has a porous microstructure on its surface and coatings consisting only of the -Al₂O₃ phase. The ceramic coating prepared by micro-arc oxidation is composed of Al, Ti, Ni, O, and P with the atomic concentration of 26.98%, 3.67%, 3.33%, 65.30% and 0.72%, respectively. The MAO-treated NiTi was soaked in a simulated body fluid (1.0SBF) to investigate the biomimetic deposition of apatite on the surface of Al₂O₃ coated NiTi alloy. It was found that Al₂O₃ coated NiTi alloy shows an excellent apatite-forming ability after soaking in a simulated body fluid (1.0SBF) for 14days, while no apatite-forming ability was observed on bared NiTi alloy even though soaking time is up to 28days.