Study on the antibacterial mechanism of Cu-bearing titanium alloy in the view of materials science

This study adopted two different heat treatment for a Ti-6Al-4V-5Cu alloy to investigate the antibacterial performance and related antibacterial mechanism. The existence and distribution of Cu in the alloy was investigated by OM, XRD, SEM and TEM. Microstructures evolution, Cu ions release and electrochemical corrosion of the alloy were studied to further analyse the antibacterial mechanism. The results showed that the alloy is an (alpha + beta) double-phase alloy and Cu could exist in two different states in the alloy, solid solutioned Cu atoms and intermetallic compound Ti2Cu. The proportions of alpha phase and beta phase and the amount of Ti2Cu could change the Cu distribution and Cu ions release, and at last affect the antibacterial property of the alloy.