MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYMER COATINGSCONTAINING HAP AND ACTIVE SUBSTANCE ON A METALSUBSTRATEWASNOCI

Abstract

Titanium alloys are currently widely used in implantation, especially in orthopaedics. However, undesirablereactions caused by aluminium and vanadium ions released from the surface of the most commonly used alloys,Ti6Al4V and Ti6Al7Nb, result in the need to modify the surface of the material to improve biocompatibility.Among the available modification methods, one can mention the application of biodegradable polymercoatings, which, apart from improving biocompatibility by limiting the penetration of alloying element ionsinto the tissue environment, can also be a matrix for the release of mineral (HAp) and active substances. Thepaper attempts to determine the mechanical properties of PLGA polymer coatings containing nanoparticlehydroxyapatite and an active substance (dexamethasone) applied with the ultrasonic spray coating methodon a Ti6Al7Nb alloy substrate. The scope of the research included: surface topography testing using an opticalprofilometer, coating adhesion testing to the substrate using the scratch test method and tribological testing(Pin-On-Disc method).