Hydrogen peroxide treatment on Ti–6Al–4V alloy: A promising surface modification technique for orthopaedic application

Ti–6Al–4V alloy was treated with various concentrations (5 wt.%, 15 wt.% and 25 wt.%) of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and then heat treated to produce an anatase titania layer. The surface modified substrates were immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution for the growth of an apatite layer on the surface and the formed apatite layer was characterized using various surface characterization techniques. The results revealed that titania layer with anatase nature was observed for all H2O2 treated Ti–6Al–4V alloy, irrespective of the H2O2 concentrations. Ti–6Al–4V alloy treated with 15 wt.% and 25 wt.% of H2O2 induced apatite formation, however 5 wt.% of H2O2 treated Ti–6Al–4V failed to form apatite layer on the surface. The electrochemical behaviour of H2O2 treated specimens in SBF solution was studied using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Ti–6Al–4V alloy treated with 25 wt.% of H2O2 solution exhibited low current density and high charge transfer resistance values compared to specimens treated with other concentrations of H2O2 and untreated Ti–6Al–4V alloy.