%0 journal article
%@ 0928-4931
%A Gordin, D.M., Busardo, D., Cimpean, A., Vasilescu, C., Hoeche, D., Drob, S.I., Mitran, V., Cornen, M., Gloriant, T.

%D 2013
%J Materials Science and Engineering  C
%N 7
%P 4173-4182 
%R doi:10.1016/j.msec.2013.06.008
%T Design of a nitrogen-implanted titanium-based superelastic alloy with optimized properties for biomedical applications
%U https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2013.06.008
7 
%X In this study, a superelastic Ni-free Ti-based biomedical alloy was treated in surface by implantation of nitrogen ions for the first time. The N-implanted surface was characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and the superficial mechanical properties were evaluated by nano-indentation and by ball-on-disk tribological tests. To investigate the biocompatibility, the corrosion resistance of the N-implanted Ti alloy was evaluated in simulated body fluids (SBF) complemented by in-vitro cytocompatibility tests on human fetal osteoblasts. After implantation, surface analysis methods revealed the formation of a titanium-based nitride on the substrate surface. Consequently, an increase in superficial hardness and a significant reduction of friction coefficient were observed compared to the non-implanted sample. Also, a better corrosion resistance and a significant decrease in ion release rates have been obtained. Cell culture experiments indicated that the cytocompatibility of the N-implanted Ti alloy was superior to that of the corresponding non treated sample. Thus, this new functional N-implanted titanium-based superelastic alloy presents the optimized properties that are required for various medical devices: superelasticity, high superficial mechanical properties, high corrosion resistance and excellent cytocompatibility.