Surface chemistry of Ti6Al4V components fabricated using selective laser melting for biomedical applications

Vaithilingam, Jayasheelan; Prina, Elisabetta; Goodridge, Ruth D.; Hague, Richard J.M.; Edmondson, Steve; Rose, Felicity R.A.J.; Christie, Steven D.R.

Abstract

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 ± 3.7 μm. 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.

Citation

Vaithilingam, J., Prina, E., Goodridge, R. D., Hague, R. J., Edmondson, S., Rose, F. R., & Christie, S. D. (2016). Surface chemistry of Ti6Al4V components fabricated using selective laser melting for biomedical applications. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 67, 294-303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2016.05.054

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 12, 2016
• Online Publication Date: May 13, 2016
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: May 20, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: May 20, 2016
• Journal: Materials Science and Engineering: C
• Print ISSN: 0928-4931
• Electronic ISSN: 0928-4931
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 67
• Pages: 294-303
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2016.05.054
• Keywords: Additive manufacturing; 3D printing; Selective laser melting (SLM); Surface chemistry; Ti6Al4V; Cytotoxicity
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/808297
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0928493116304738