Nanoscale surface modification of a prosthetic material: case of Ti6Al4V into Ringer's solution.

Nanoscale surface modification of Ti6Al4V prosthetic material was investigated at 37 degrees C into a physiological liquid named Ringer's solution. The root-mean-square surface roughness evolution of the material as a function of immersion time was evaluated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and 3D reconstruction of scanning electron microscope images (SEM). The results obtained from both techniques clearly showed a decrease of the root-mean-square surface roughness during the first 6 hours of immersion in the physiological liquid that is followed by a stability of the roughness value at longer durations. Moreover, the study of the roughness parameters extracted from AFM measurements is used to explain the smoothing process occurring at the interface between the prosthetic material and the physiological liquid.