Abstract
In biomedical implants and dental fields, titanium has been widely utilized for excellent corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. However, Ti and its alloys are nonbioactive after being implanted in bone. In this study, for the purpose of improvement in biocompatibility the anodic $TiO_2$ layer on Ti-xNb alloys were fabricated by electrochemical method in phosphate solution, and the effect of Nb content on the pore size, the morphology and crystallinity of Ti oxide layer formed by the anodic oxidation method was investigated. The Ti containing Nb up to 3 wt%, 20 wt% and 40 wt% were melted by using a vacuum furnace. The sample were cut, polished, and homogenized for 24 hr at $1050^{\circ}C$ for surface roughness test and anodizing. Titanium anodic layer was formed on the specimen surface in an electrolytic solution of 1 M phosphoric acid at constant current densities ($30mA/cm^2$) by anodizing method. Microstructural morphology, crystallinity, composition, and surface roughness of oxide layer were observed by FE-SEM, XRD, EDS, and roughness tester, respectively. The structure of alloy was changed from $\alpha$-phase to $\beta$-phase with increase of Nb content. From XRD results, the structure of $TiO_2$ formed on the Ti-xNb surface was anatase, and no peaks of $Nb_2O_5$ or other Nb oxide were detected suggesting that Nb atoms are dispersed in $TiO_2$-based solid solution. Surface roughness test and SEM results, pore size formed on surface and surface roughness decreased as Nb content increased. From the line analysis results, intensity of Ti peak was high in the center of pore, whereas, intensity of O peak was high in the outside of pore center.