Structural characterization of the metal/glass interface in bioactive glass coatings on Ti-6Al-4V.

Coating Ti-based implants with bioactive materials promotes joining between the prostheses and the bone as well as increasing long-term implant stability. In the present work, the interface between Ti-6Al-4V and bioactive silicate glass coatings, prepared using a simple enameling technique, is analyzed. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy of the glass/alloy interface shows the formation of a reaction layer ( approximately 150 nm thick) composed of Ti5Si3 nanoparticles with a size of approximately 20 nm. This nanostructured interface facilitates the formation of a stable joint between the glass coating and the alloy. Copyright 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers