Bioactive HA/CNTs composite Coatings on the NiTi implants

In this study, a hydroxyapatite/carbon nanotubes composite was coated at room temperature on NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) through electrochemical deposition using stable suspension which was prepared by adding 4 g natural hydroxyapatite powder and 1 wt. % CNTs to 50 ml n-butanol. Suspension was stabilized using triethylenamine as dispersant. Surface characteristics, adhesion strength, stability and bioactivity of the composite coating were subsequently studied. EDX examination of the composite coating surface revealed homogeneous dispersion of carbon nanotubes all over coating. Also, the bonding strength of composite coating was found to be about 24 MPa. Compared to NiTi sample coated with hydroxyapatite and coated with hydroxyapatite/carbon nanotubes, the bode and nyquist plots of NiTi samples with hydroxyapatite/carbon nanotubes composite coating suggested that the composite coating was chemically more stable and provided corrosion resistance for NiTi SMA. In-vitro bioactivity test in SBF showed that the presence of CNTs in HA/CNTs composite coating does not have negative effect on ability of apatite formation.