Thesis (Ph.D.)--North Carolina State University, 2008. / Adviser: Ollis, David F. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Lehigh University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references and vita.

Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Paper Science and Engineering, 2002. / Title from first page of PDF document. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 107 p. : ill. Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-75).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-141). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Queensland, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S. in materials science and engineering)--Washington State University, December 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Feb 19, 2010). "School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering." Includes bibliographical references (p. 37-39).

The aims of this study were to, 1) investigate the surface characteristics of polished titanium plates/discs treated with acid-etching and ultraviolet irradiation (UV); and 2) investigate the change in surface characteristics of polished titanium plates/discs treated with acid-etching and UV irradiation after aging in air, saline and citric acid for six weeks. A total of one hundred and ninety-eight commercially pure grade two titanium plates and 50 titanium discs were prepared. Titanium samples were divided into four groups: 1) polished group, 2) polished and UV group, 3) acid-etched group and 4) acid-etched and UV group. Polishing was performed by abrasive silicon carbide paper grinding. UV treatment was performed by 15W germicidal UVC, 254 nm, for 48 h. Acid-etching was performed with 67% H2SO4 at 120 ºC for 75 s. The four groups were then subjected to an aging process for six weeks in sealed containers with three different media: air, physiologic saline and citric acid. They were analyzed immediately after treatment and after aging for surface characterization: topography, roughness, wettability, crystallinity, and chemistry. The polished surface showed relatively smooth surface with typical grooves from the grinding process. Acid-etching produced micro-roughened surface with sharp pits and ridges. The average surface roughness of polished, polished-UV was lower than that of the acid-etched and acid-etched-UV surfaces (p < 0.05). Storage of titanium in saline and citric acid did not provoke any morphological or roughness changes at micron scale level when compared to the samples stored in air. Immediately after preparation and treatment, the polished and acid-etched titanium surfaces appeared to be hydrophilic with similar contact angle values (p > 0.05). After UV treatment, there was a significant reduction in contact angles (superhydrophilic) in both surfaces (p < 0.05). After storage in air for six weeks, the contact angles of the four groups significantly increased (p < 0.05) and the surfaces converted to a hydrophobic state. In contrast to samples stored in air, samples stored in saline and citric acid revealed superhydrophilic surfaces regardless of the surface type. Titanium hydride crystals were present in the acid-etched and acid-etched-UV surfaces but not in the polished and polished-UV surfaces. Titanium tetrachloride crystals were present in saline-stored surfaces. The polished surface acquired significantly higher titanium and oxygen concentrations and lower carbon contaminants compared to acid-etched surface. UV treatment substantially decreased carbon contamination and increased the titanium and oxygen concentrations in the acid-etched groups (p < 0.05). After storage for six weeks in air, the four studied surfaces had no significant changes in the surface chemistry. Storage of the titanium samples in saline and citric acid relatively increased the carbon contamination and decreased titanium and oxygen concentrations. UV treatment may be an effective way to produce clean titanium surfaces with less carbon especially after roughening the titanium surface by acid-etching. Storage of the freshly prepared titanium surface in media such as saline or citric acid could preserve the hydrophilic property of these surfaces, however, it may also negatively influence the surface chemistry due to increased carbon contaminants. / published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

Titanium and its alloys have been widely used as materials in biomedicine and in particular, for dental implants, and one main reason is their unique ability to osseointegrate with the host bone. This phenomenon forms a strong bone-to-implant bonding. The rate and quality of osseointegration of a titanium dental implant depends heavily upon its surface properties. Over time, various surface treatment methods have been developed to further improve osseointegration of titanium-based biomaterials. This PhD thesis focuses on promising surface treatment methodology: surface charge modification. A negative charge has been known to promote the osseointegration of titanium biomaterials. Before the current work there was no practical approach to induce negative charge on titanium surfaces. The goal was to find such a practical technique. The current investigations revealed that sandblasting, a commonly used surface treatment method, can generate a negative charge on the surface of titanium, and also titanium alloy and stainless steel micro-implants, due to the triboelectric effect. Stainless steel doesn’t osseointegrate. The basic methodology of these studies was to sandblast titanium and measure the amount and polarity of the static charge on titanium surfaces. The effects of several important parameters were evaluated, including the sandblasting material, the size of the blasting grits, and the shape of the titanium material. Statistical analysis was performed on the results of the static charge measurements. In addition, the contamination of the titanium sandblasting was also evaluated. The results of the current studies suggested that sandblasting could generate static charges on titanium and stainless steel surfaces. However, such charges gradually dissipate into the atmosphere. The amount, polarity, and the decay rate of the charge depend on many factors tested in the experiments. These results might explain the beneficial of sandblasting on the osseointegration of titanium implants. Osseointegration has been traditionally attributed to its roughening effects. Moreover, the current studies may potentially lead to improved sandblasting techniques, becoming in mind that more research should be carried out. / published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.

M. Tech. Metallurgical Engineering / Titanium and its alloys exhibit poor tribological characteristics. The poor resistance to sliding wear of Ti6Al4V alloy makes it susceptible to severe wear at the surface during sliding contact. This could cause galling and seizing during sliding contact. Ti6Al4V alloy also have poor corrosion resistance under critical conditions. Some problems with Ti6Al4V MMCs produced by laser cladding technique in most cases is poor bonding as a result of wetting properties between the ceramic and metal powders for reinforcement. Occurrence of porosity is another factor which can reduce the mechanical properties of MMCs. Occurrence of agglomerates is also a concern due to poor mixing of reinforcement powders. This project is aimed at investigating the effect of laser cladding of titanium alloy substrate with zirconium (Zr), titanium carbide (TiC), titanium (Ti) reinforcement additions. The effect of combination of these powders using various fractions and variable cladding parameters on the substrate will be investigated.