Coating of titanium implants with boron nitride by RF-magnetron sputtering

Surface modification is necessary for titanium implants since it is unable to induce bone apposition. The beneficial effects of boron on bone formation, composition and physical properties make it suitable as a coating material. In the present study, surface properties of boron nitride (BN) coating on titanium implants were evaluated. Twenty-four implants and 12 abutments were coated with BN by RF-magnetron sputtering system. ATR–FTIR measurements were conducted to assess surface chemistry and morphology of BN-coated implants. Adhesion tests were performed by CSM nanoscratch test device to determine adhesion of BN to titanium surface. Surface profilometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to evaluate surface roughness. Mean roughness values were calculated. Contact angle measurements were done for evaluation of wettability. Surface characterization of coated implants was repeated after RF power of the system was increased and voltage values were changed to evaluate if these settings have an impact on coating quality. Three different voltage values were used for this purpose. Hexagonal-BN was determined in FTIR spectra. RF-coating technique provided adequate adherence of BN coatings to the titanium surface. A uniform BN coating layer was formed on the titanium implants with no deformation on the titanium surface. Similar roughness values were maintained after BN coating procedure. Before coating, the contact angles of the implants were in between 63∘ and 79∘, whereas BN coated implants’ contact angles ranged between 46∘ and 67∘. BN-coated implant surfaces still have hydrophilic characteristics. The change in voltage values seemed to affect the surface coating characteristics. Especially, the phase of the BN coating was different when different voltages were used. According to our results, BN coating can be sufficiently performed on pretreated implant surfaces and the characteristics of BN coated surfaces can be changed with the change in parameters of RF-magnetron sputtering system.