Electrochemical micromachining of titanium surfaces for biomedical applications

Surface microscopic features are critical factors that affect successful application of titanium as a load bearing implant in orthopedic surgery. Electrochemical micromachining (ECM) offers a mean to produce patterns on titanium surfaces. In the present study, a new ECM technique, jet-electrochemical micromachining (Jet-EMM), was employed to produce micro-hole patterns on titanium specimens. Surface holes, which are hundreds of micrometers in diameter and have an aspect ratio of over 1.3, were machined by combining jet flow impingement and electrochemical reaction. Compared with through mask electrochemical micromachining (TMEMM), Jet-EMM exhibits an advantage in producing surface features with a high aspect ratio and in producing the features on curved surfaces. It can be potentially used to modify the surfaces of the titanium implants requiring extensive bone in-growth and better osteointegration.