Titanium alloys have long been esteemed for their exceptional mechanical properties and biocompatibility, making them a cornerstone material in various biomedical applications. However, to harness their full potential in implantology, orthopedics, and dentistry, biofunctionalization plays a pivotal role. This article provides a comprehensive exploration of the techniques and applications involved in biofunctionalizing titanium alloys.

Biomaterials are substances that have been engineered to interact with biological systems for a medical purpose, either a therapeutic or diagnostic one. Biomaterials have a rich history of evolution, as they have continuously transformed from simple inert substances to complex, interactive materials, designed to communicate with biological systems and promote tissue regeneration and healing. Titanium, due to its excellent biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties, has established its place as one of the most used biomaterials, particularly in orthopedics and dental applications. This article provides an overview of titanium as a biomaterial, highlighting its properties, applications, and recent advancements.

Using the simple Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD) method, Cu-doped thin films of zinc sulfide (ZnS) were deposited on glass substrates in a concentration range of 0.05-0.1% Cu. These films were made to be used as a buffer or window layer in solar cells. Different deposition conditions were investigated to find the optimal growth conditions; after that, the conditions were deployed to deposit the required films. XRD graphs confirmed a hexagonal structure, and SEM images indicated that the incorporation of Cu stabilises small grain growth in the films. The appearance of the sample surface was dense, with an ordered granular shape, and free of any cracks. The optical and surface properties of the prepared films have been analysed using stateof-the-art instruments. The effect of pH on such properties has also been investigated. The transmittances of the films were about 20–85%, and the incident wavelength range was 300– 1100 nm. The transmission line shows a sharply increasing tendency. After that, it increases slowly and goes to a stable state above 400 nm. A film of pH 10.0 showed a high transmission coefficient (85%). Also, the absorbance of the ZnS thin films rapidly decreases up to 360 nm. After that, it decreases slowly and becomes stable above 400 nm. The band gap is in the range of 3.58–3.62 eV, which indicates that it absorbed the UV portion of the electromagnetic wave and could be used as the UV filter.

This research addresses the metallurgical and mechanical response during the annealing of Ti6Al4V parts fabricated by selective laser melting. The as-manufactured Ti6Al4V exhibited a very fine a´ martensitic structure with low ductility of less than 10%. It was observed that the fine a´ martensitic structure transformed into two phases of a and ß by applying heat treatments at 850 and 1020 °C followed by furnace cooling. The experimental results demonstrated that 850°C/2h/FC heat treatment has optimum mechanical performance in terms of tensile strength and ductility

Used Li-ion batteries through recycling allow the recovery of deficient and expensive elements such as cobalt, nickel and lithium. The work presents the possibilities of recovering cobalt from the cathodic paste of worn Li-ion batteries. The method applied for the recovery of cathode paste is the one with ultrasonication in acidic medium. Citric acid was used as a fainting medium. The method is viable and environmentally friendly. The cathode paste obtained by processing in the oven mixed with alumina leads to the obtaining of a blue cobalt pigment.

The article presents experiments aimed at increasing the properties of a plastic mould tool steel with a special heat treatment technology called shallow cryogenic treatment. Our chosen steel grade was Böhler M340 ISOPLAST. We would like to show how cryogenic treatment affects the wear and corrosion properties of this particular steel grade. We can conclude with tests and calculations that the cryogenically treated specimen showed at least 40% better wear and corrosion resistance properties, then the one treated with conventional heat treatment. Based on these findings, we expect that the tool life will also be longer using this heat treatment technology.