Ti–Ta dental alloys and a way to improve gingival aesthethic in contact with the implant

Abstract

The development of Ti-based alloys with improved properties for medical applications is a challenge nowadays in the field of materials engineering. In this study, the color of oxide layers developed by anodic oxidation in H2SO4 solution on Ti–Ta alloys was studied and the alteration in microhardness was evaluated. The alloys were manufactured by levitation fusion technique using Ti as base material and Ta was added in 5, 15, 25, and 30 wt%. After the alloys were passivated, changes of oxide color function of applied potential, the growth of oxide mass and the microhardness were investigated. The studies showed that the oxide mass increases with the potential and the hardness values vary as a function of Ta addition. The microhardness results showed that the oxide layer developed after passivation on the surface of Ti–25Ta alloy exhibited higher hardness values and a denser oxide layer as compared to the Ti–5Ta, Ti–15Ta, and Ti–30Ta alloys. Using a potential of 70 V a redish oxide color was obtained which might have optimal aplications in dentistry due to its aesthetics and mechanical properties.