Anodizing has proven an effective method for preparing bioactive titanium and has been the subject of many studies regarding the performance and biological characterization of the layers obtained. However, the fatigue behavior of titanium alloys, after undergoing this process is still poorly studied. This study aims to investigate the influence of MAO (Micro-Arc Oxidation) process on the fatigue properties of titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V. Therefore axial fatigue tests were performed to obtain SxN curves, of specimens in polished and anodized (MAO processed, phosphate salt solution, potential of 290 V) conditions. Roughness measurements, SEM, Raman spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses were used to characterize the features of the modified surface. SEM was also used to analyze the fatigue fractures of the tested specimens. The MAO process, with the parameters used in this investigation, had no influence on the fatigue behavior of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy, when compared to specimens without surface modification.

A combined chemical-electrochemical oxidation method to obtain porous bioactive TiO2 films on titanium is reported. In this case, a titanium chemical pre-etching followed by the micro-arc oxidation (MAO) treatment is proposed and optimized, to obtain a high-roughness and porous surface which benefits the titanium/bone integration. The MAO treatment at various rates (different current densities) allowed to define the influence of the oxide growth rate on the surface morphology and to design the best features for each case. Titanium samples were pre-etched using a 2% HF solution as a function of the etching time, and then anodized by the MAO treatment in a 0.5 M H3PO4 solution at current densities in the 10 to 90 mA.cm-2 range. High porosity (0.5 to 1 µm-diameter pores) and higher phosphorous content for TiO2 films were achieved by first etching the Ti sample for 180 seconds in the HF solution, and then applying current densities in the 80 to 90 mA.cm-2 range for the micro-arc oxidation process.