Laser Induced Micro/Nano …
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of metals and nonmetals. The interaction of laser with the materials transfer the
quantum of thermal energy to locally modify the material properties. Laser treatments are widely used to manufacture the components and fabricate the functional
surfaces on various metallic materials in the biomedical fields. Unlike the conventional chemical surface treatments, the laser treatments have advantages to use them
for the complex implant surfaces and avoid the risk associated with using aggressive chemicals. The laser surface texturing by controlling the processing parameters
produces the micro/nano topographies over the implant surface which could affect the
cell adhesion mechanism and differentiation. Furthermore, it also imparts the antibacterial properties which is one of the important factors for biomedical applications.
The cell differentiation on the implant surfaces could be accelerated by fabricating the
combinations of micro/nano textures with moderately rough surfaces. These surfaces
have a tendency to guide the cell adhesion and differentiation for better osteointegration of the implants during service. Furthermore, the surface chemical composition
which plays a key role in determining the chemical stability of the metal surfaces
could be altered through laser treatments simultaneously producing the micro/nano
textures.
The literature survey also shows that a vast amount of research is carried out on
permanent implant materials to enhance their performance in biomedical implant
applications. However, as the growth of biodegradable implant materials is consistently increasing over the years their surface properties still need to be improved to
satisfy their performance in the implant fields. The degradable implant materials such
as Magnesium, Zinc, and Fe based alloys are widely proposed as alternatives to the
permanent implant materials. However, meeting the required chemical reactivity and
biocompatibility of these materials in biological environments are still challenges to
achieve. Therefore, laser surface treatments could be an appropriate technique to
fabricate the surfaces to meet the desired chemical reactivity and enhanced biocompatibility. Furthermore, fabricating the hierarchical nano textures on metals would
also be an important direction in biomedical fields for sensing of biomolecules and
enhancement of their detection. The research on these directions is indeed essential
to fabricate the functional surfaces with better properties.
5 Summary
Recent works on the laser surface treatments and micro/nano texture formation on
metals and alloys used in the biomedical applications are presented in this chapter.
The formation of refined microstructures with surface roughness in the range of
several micrometers and fabrication of various micro/nano patterns were responsible to enhance the surface properties such a microhardness, tribological properties, wettability, corrosion properties, anti-bacterial activity, and in vitro biocompatibility. Selective laser melting provides an opportunity to manufacture the alloy
with the desired composition with precise control over the microstructure. Laser
surface melting results in modification of substrate surface consisting of refined
459
of metals and nonmetals. The interaction of laser with the materials transfer the
quantum of thermal energy to locally modify the material properties. Laser treatments are widely used to manufacture the components and fabricate the functional
surfaces on various metallic materials in the biomedical fields. Unlike the conventional chemical surface treatments, the laser treatments have advantages to use them
for the complex implant surfaces and avoid the risk associated with using aggressive chemicals. The laser surface texturing by controlling the processing parameters
produces the micro/nano topographies over the implant surface which could affect the
cell adhesion mechanism and differentiation. Furthermore, it also imparts the antibacterial properties which is one of the important factors for biomedical applications.
The cell differentiation on the implant surfaces could be accelerated by fabricating the
combinations of micro/nano textures with moderately rough surfaces. These surfaces
have a tendency to guide the cell adhesion and differentiation for better osteointegration of the implants during service. Furthermore, the surface chemical composition
which plays a key role in determining the chemical stability of the metal surfaces
could be altered through laser treatments simultaneously producing the micro/nano
textures.
The literature survey also shows that a vast amount of research is carried out on
permanent implant materials to enhance their performance in biomedical implant
applications. However, as the growth of biodegradable implant materials is consistently increasing over the years their surface properties still need to be improved to
satisfy their performance in the implant fields. The degradable implant materials such
as Magnesium, Zinc, and Fe based alloys are widely proposed as alternatives to the
permanent implant materials. However, meeting the required chemical reactivity and
biocompatibility of these materials in biological environments are still challenges to
achieve. Therefore, laser surface treatments could be an appropriate technique to
fabricate the surfaces to meet the desired chemical reactivity and enhanced biocompatibility. Furthermore, fabricating the hierarchical nano textures on metals would
also be an important direction in biomedical fields for sensing of biomolecules and
enhancement of their detection. The research on these directions is indeed essential
to fabricate the functional surfaces with better properties.
5 Summary
Recent works on the laser surface treatments and micro/nano texture formation on
metals and alloys used in the biomedical applications are presented in this chapter.
The formation of refined microstructures with surface roughness in the range of
several micrometers and fabrication of various micro/nano patterns were responsible to enhance the surface properties such a microhardness, tribological properties, wettability, corrosion properties, anti-bacterial activity, and in vitro biocompatibility. Selective laser melting provides an opportunity to manufacture the alloy
with the desired composition with precise control over the microstructure. Laser
surface melting results in modification of substrate surface consisting of refined