Figure 1
From: An antibacterial coated polymer prevents biofilm formation and implant-associated infection
SEM images of untreated and H2SO4-treated PEEK and of PEEK-Ag+. The surface of pure polyetheretherketone (PEEK) (A) was immersed in 98% concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4) for 10 min (B), after which a porous configuration was observed on the surface by SEM. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) aggregates were homogeneously coated on the PEEK coated with immobilized Ag+ ions (PEEK-Ag+) (C). The H2SO4 modification of the PEEK surface was performed for different periods of time. Vertical sections of the PEEK plates are shown in (D) and (E). Asterisk reveals the reaction layer caused by H2SO4 treatment. After 10 min of treatment in a 100-µm depth, the thickness of the modification stayed about the same.
