Electrochemical surface engineering of titanium-based alloys for biomedical application

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are the most widely used materials for biomedical applications, owing to their good corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. However, their long-term performance is compromised by the post-surgery complications such as implant-associated infection and mechanical loosening. Surface modification can be adopted to alleviate these concerns while preserving the desirable bulk attributes. Among various techniques, electrochemical methods offer merits such as mild processing conditions, non-line-of-sight operation, low cost, as well as large-scale production. This paper gives a brief overview of surface engineering of the Ti-based alloys from the perspective of electrochemistry. It mainly focuses on three major electrochemical techniques: low voltage anodization, micro-arc oxidation, and electrodeposition. Overall, effects have been made to bring out a comprehensive understanding of electrochemical modification of Ti-based alloys for biomedical applications.