Effect of polyethylene glycol on surface coating of Ta2O5 onto titanium substrate in sol-gel technique

Purpose: Recently, titanium (Ti) and its alloys have been widely used in dental and surgical implants in the last few decades. However, there is a loosening effect over a long period usage. Therefore, the present study aimed to increase life of an implant by its surface modification.

Methods: In present study, sol-gel process has been applied to create tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅) layer coating on Ti-substrate. In this technique, polyethylene glycol (PEG) plays an important role to form uniform porous coating, which can have potential application in formation of strong bonding to the natural bone.

Results: Microstructural, elemental, structural and binding energy results showed that the material with 100% PEG-enhanced sol-gel Ta₂O₅ with spin coating onto Ti substrate followed by an optimized sintering temperature (500 °C) has better porous structure than that of 5% PEG-enhanced sol-gel Ta₂O₅ coating, and would be suitable for tissue in-growth properties.

Conclusions: Therefore, it was concluded that the present spin coated 100% PEG-enhanced Ta₂O₅ coating onto Ti, having the most suitable morphology with enhanced roughness, could be noteworthy for potential tissue in-growth and it could provide desired bonding at the interface of Ti-implant coating and host tissues in biomedical applications.