Novel rosette‐like formations with nanothick petals observed on acid‐etched titanium

Abstract

Summary Understanding of surface evolution is important in applications that require engineering prescribed surface structures. Novel crystalized formations have been observed on titanium specimens etched with sulfuric acid as part of an ongoing implantology research. Crystal formations resembling rosettes were discovered via scanning electron microcopy near the edges of several commercially pure titanium specimens etched by immersion in 18M (98%) sulfuric acid at 60°C for 30 minutes to 1 hour. These crystallized formations were composed of numerous thin sheets (in the neighborhood of 20‐50 nm thick) resembling “petals” that form in an approximately hexagonal arrangement. Energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analysis identified these as sulfur oxide formations, probably titanyl sulfate. Literature documentation of similar formations has not been found. Further investigation of the thermal‐chemical potential, activation energies, or other factors involved in the nucleation and growth of these formations is needed. Such understanding could help advance knowledge in areas related to surface engineering and corrosion mechanisms. Furthermore, it is inferred that this novel formations could have applications in certain processes where chemical reactions in bypassing fluids are assisted by surface chemistry and enhanced by surface roughness.

Keywords

• acid etching
• corrosion
• sulfate
• surface formations
• titanium