Surface chemistry of Ti6Al4V components fabricated using selective laser melting for biomedical applications.
Selective laser melting (SLM) has previously been shown to be a viable method for fabricating biomedical implants; however, the surface chemistry of SLM fabricated parts is poorly understood. In this study, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to determine the surface chemistries of (a) SLM as-fabricated (SLM-AF) Ti6Al4V and (b) SLM fabricated and mechanically polished (SLM-MP) Ti6Al4V samples and compared with (c) traditionally manufactured (forged) and mechanically polished Ti6Al4V samples. The SLM-AF surface was observed to be porous with an average surface roughness (Ra) of 17.6±3.7μm. The surface chemistry of the SLM-AF was significantly different to the FGD-MP surface with respect to elemental distribution and their existence on the outermost surface. Sintered particles on the SLM-AF surface were observed to affect depth profiling of the sample due to a shadowing effect during argon ion sputtering. Surface heterogeneity was observed for all three surfaces; however, vanadium was witnessed only on the mechanically polished (SLM-MP and FGD-MP) surfaces. The direct and indirect 3T3 cell cytotoxicity studies revealed that the cells were viable on the SLM fabricated Ti6Al4V parts. The varied surface chemistry of the SLM-AF and SLM-MP did not influence the cell behaviour.
Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Research Group, EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Additive Manufacturing, School of Engineering, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. Electronic address: Jayasheelan.Vaithilingam@nottingham.ac.uk.
Jayasheelan
J
Vaithilingam
School of Pharmacy, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
Elisabetta
E
Prina
Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Research Group, EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Additive Manufacturing, School of Engineering, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
Ruth D
RD
Goodridge
Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Research Group, EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Additive Manufacturing, School of Engineering, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
Richard J M
RJM
Hague
School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
Steve
S
Edmondson
School of Pharmacy, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
Felicity R A J
FRAJ
Rose
Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK.
Steven D R
SDR
Christie
D000497:Alloys; D000818:Animals; D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000379:methods*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D007834:Lasers; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000497:Alloys; D010087:Oxides; C031462:titanium alloy (TiAl6V4); D014025:Titanium
3D printing; Additive manufacturing; Cytotoxicity; Selective laser melting (SLM); Surface chemistry; Ti6Al4V