Laser-induced features at titanium implant surface in vacuum ambience

Interaction of a TEA CO2 laser with a titanium implant in vacuum (air pressure 0.1 mbar) was studied. The laser operates at 10: 6 mu m with pulse duration of 100 ns (FWHM). The surface alternations were studied at the moderate laser beam energy density/fluence of 52 J/cm(2). The energy absorbed from the TEA CO2 laser beam was partially converted to thermal energy, which generated a series of effects such as melting, vaporization of the molten material, shock waves, etc. The following titanium implant surface changes and phenomena were observed: (1) creation of superficial damage which takes crater-shaped form at a higher number of accumulated laser pulses. Maximal depth of the damage was 9 mu m for 500 laser pulses. The damage cross-section had a conical form; (2) melt pools, inside the damage region, especially prominent for higher number of accumulated pulses; (3) preservation of chemical surface composition in central, and changes at the peripheral region, and (4) occurrence of plasma in front of the implant. The results have shown that under the applied experimental conditions, TEA CO2 laser can effectively be applied for enhancing the titanium implant roughness and creation of surface chemical changes. The appearance of plasma in front of the implant offers a sterilizing effect, facilitating contaminant-free conditions.