Preparation of bioactive Ti-15Zr-4Nb-4Ta alloy from HCl and heat treatments after an NaOH treatment.

Ti-15Zr-4Nb-4Ta alloy does not contain any cytotoxic elements and has a high mechanical strength. Water or HCl and heat treatments were applied to this alloy after NaOH treatment to form a bioactive titanium oxide layer with a nanometer scale roughness on its surface. The nanometer scale roughness was formed on the surface after the first NaOH treatment and remained, even after a subsequent water or HCl and heat treatment. A layer that was mainly composed of anatase was formed on the surface after the heat treatment. Thus, the treated alloy showed a high apatite-forming ability in an SBF, as well as a high scratch resistance. Its high apatite-forming ability was attributed to its positive surface charge. The same alloy subjected to a heat treatment without a water or HCl treatment after the NaOH treatment did not show an apatite-forming ability. This was attributed to a too slow release rate of sodium ions from the surface in an SBF. Ti-15Zr-4Nb-4Ta alloy samples subjected to a water or HCl and heat treatment after the NaOH treatment are expected to be useful as orthopedic and dental implants, since they can form an apatite layer on their surface in a living body and bond to living bone through this apatite layer.