Surface Modification of Poly (ether ether ketone) with a Medlite C6 (ND YAG Q Switched) Skin Treatment Laser
Abstract Poly ether ether ketone (PEEK) a synthetic polymer, is expected to be useful as a biomaterial due to its appropriate mechanical, chemical, and biocompatibility properties. However, this polymer is biologically inert, requiring surface modification to improve its adhesion to bone cells for use as a bone substrate. Surface properties, such as roughness and hydrophilicity, are important factors in the adhesion of biomaterials to the surrounding tissue; therefore, in this study, laser treatment was performed for surface modification. The aim of the research described here was to investigate the effect of two laser parameters, fluency and wavelength, on the surface roughness and hydrophilicity to determine the optimum parameters for improving surface adhesion. The surface topography and average roughness (Ra) were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) Surface morphology was also observed with an optical microscope, and the hydrophilicity of the surfaces was investigated with static contact angle tests. The results obtained showed that the samples treated at the wavelength of 532 nm with fluency of 8 J/cm2, compared to fluencies of 4 and 12 J/cm2, showed improved surface properties. However, in terms of radiation wavelength, the wavelength of 1064 nm at these three fluencies showed the most promising results for enhancing the surface properties of PEEK for bone implant applications.
Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part B