Femtosecond laser induced fixation of calcium alkali phosphate ceramics on titanium alloy bone implant material.
Femtosecond lasers provide a novel method of attaching bioceramic material to a titanium alloy, thereby improving the quality of bone implants. The ultrashort 30 fs laser pulses (790 nm wavelength) penetrate a thin dip-coated layer of fine ceramic powder, while simultaneously melting a surface layer of the underlying metal. The specific adjustment of the laser parameters (pulse energy and number of pulses per spot) avoids unnecessary melting of the bioactive calcium phosphate, and permits a defined thin surface melting of the metal, which in turn is not heated throughout, and therefore maintains its mechanical stability. It is essential to choose laser energy densities that correspond to the interval between the ablation fluences of both materials involved: about 0.1-0.4 Jcm(-2). In this work, we present the first results of this unusual technique, including laser ablation studies, scanning electron microscopy and optical microscope images, combined with EDX data.
Symietz
Christian
C
BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany. christian.symietz@bam.de
Lehmann
Erhard
E
Gildenhaar
Renate
R
Krüger
Jörg
J
Berger
Georg
G
D000468:Alkalies / Q000737:chemistry*; D000497:Alloys; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D007834:Lasers; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011208:Powders; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000468:Alkalies; D000497:Alloys; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D011208:Powders; C031462:titanium alloy (TiAl6V4); C020243:calcium phosphate; D014025:Titanium