ELECTROCHEMICAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THERMALLY TREATED TITANIUM BIOMATERIALS

The paper aims to investigate the electrochemical and antibacterial behavior of titanium with surface thermally treated at two different temperatures as 400 degrees C and 800 degrees C, respectively. The temperature of 800 degrees C is associated with titanium oxidation, leading to oxide layers with a rutile structure instead of anatase. The electrochemical investigation involves open circuit potential, polarization tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The characterization of treated surfaces was completed with contact angle determinations. Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria have been used for antibacterial tests. The best thermal treatment is that carried out at 800 degrees C, leading to the titanium with smallest corrosion rate, stronger hydrophilic character and higher index of bacteria inhibition for Escherichia coli and Staphylococus aureus.