LAUSR

Abstract This work reports the development of a novel method to treat a commercially TiUnite® implant to detach its tightly bonded surface oxide layer. The implant was anodized in a fluorine-containing electrolyte (usually for TiO 2 nanotubes preparation) at 50 V for 2 h, which resulted in detachment of the coating. High-quality coating cross-sectional samples were prepared with detached coating fragments. Both the exposed titanium substrate and the detached coating were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). It was interesting to find that the coating-substrate interface exhibited a specific “mortise-tenon” anchorage structure. For comparison, focused ion beam (FIB) method was also conducted and the results revealed uneven bonding interface, specific internal pores distribution and varied coating thickness of the oxide coating. EDX results reported to existence of Ga + ion in the coating after FIB treatment while the novel method would increase the O element content. The novel method gave a brand new angle for detection of TiUnite implant and enhanced the understanding of its coating-substrate interface features unprecedentedly. It provides a novel and economy method for research, development and evaluation of coated titanium-based implant.