Investigating and evaluating the properties of titanium coating on porous polyetheretherketone for using in reconstructive medical

Considering the growth of technology in biomaterial science, the main goal of surface coating is to increase biocompatibility and reduce adverse reactions of the body. Polyetheretherketone is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic that has outstanding mechanical and chemical properties as well as high thermal stability, and is a polymer that can be used in bone replacements. This polymer is also used with a porous structure. The modified biocompatibility of this polymer in the porous state using titanium coating has been considered in this research. At first, the porous peek samples were prepared using pure peek and sodium chloride salt as spacer, by dry mixing method and using SPS method. Then, the thin layer of titanium metal was coated on the polyetheretherketon substrate using plasma spray method and the effect of coating on the biomedical performance of polyetheretherketone was determined and evaluated. The main advantages of plasma spray titanium were the undamaged substrate and good stability of the coating layer, which were confirmed by SEM, XRD and bond strength analysis. Also, mechanical tests were taken from the porous sample, which showed that the density, compressive strength, and hardness of the produced sample are significantly high. In order to investigate the formation of apatite on the prepared samples, the bioactivity of these coated and uncoated samples was investigated by immersing them in simulated body fluid and it was concluded that polyetheretherketone coated with titanium has bioactivity properties.