Bonding characteristics of selected liquid-metals with a CO₂ laser treated magnesia partially stabilised zirconia bioceramic

Following CO₂ laser treatment, the surface of a magnesia partially stabilised zirconia (MgO-PSZ) bioceramic found to exhibit improved bonding characteristics through an increase in the work of adhesion. An electronic approach was used to elucidate the bonding characteristics of the MgO-PSZ bioceramic before and after CO₂ laser treatment. It is postulated that CO₂ laser induced changes to the MgO-PSZ bioceramic produced a surface with a reduced bandgap energy which consequently increased the work of adhesion by increasing the electron transfer at the metal/oxide interface and thus the metal-oxide interactions. Furthermore, it is suggested that the increase in the work of adhesion of the MgO-PSZ bioceramic after CO₂ laser treatment was due to a correlation existing between the wettability and ionicity of the MgO-PSZ bioceramic; for it is believed that the CO₂ laser treated surface is less ionic in nature than the untreated surface and therefore exhibits better wettability characteristics.