[Animal experiment study of titanium with surface coatings of (Ti,Nb)ON and (Ti,Zr)O].

Titanium is considered to be biocompatible as long as the passive layer of TiO2 which is formed within the body, is not destroyed mechanically by the shearing forces acting on implants during function. Mechanically stable hard coatings on the basis of the so-called refractory metals render titanium wear-and-tear-resistant, with the added advantage for its biocompatibility of keeping its the physical and electrochemical properties constant, even in the event of relative movement against hard or soft tissue. Biological testing of coated and uncoated titanium in experimental animals shows that the deposition of new bone on (Ti,Zr)O or (Ti,Nb)ON surfaces takes place in the same way as on the surface of titanium.