Biocompatibility of nanotube formed Ti-30Nb-7Ta alloys.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biocompatibility of Ti-30Nb-7Ta alloy surface decorated with TiO2 nanotubes by anodization in an electrolyte containing 1 M H3PO4 and 0.8 wt.% NaF with an applied voltage of 10 V for 2 h. The anodization was carried out using a scanning potentiostat. The microstructures of alloys and morphology of the nanotubes were investigated by optical microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. In comparison to the Ti-30Nb-3Ta alloy, the Ti-30Nb-7Ta alloy contained a lower amount of α" phase, while the β phase was higher. In this study, we observed the formation of a spongy porous layer on the Ti-30Nb-7Ta alloy, while the Ti-30Nb and Ti-30Nb-3Ta alloys showed an absence of such a spongy layer.