ABSTRACT
Multi-principal-element (TiZrNbHfTa)N and (TiZrNbHfTa)C coatings were deposited on Ti6Al4V alloy by co-sputtering of Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf and Ta metallic targets in reactive atmosphere. The coatings were analyzed for elemental and phase compositions, crystalline structure, morphology, residual stress, hardness, friction performance, wear-corrosion resistance and cell viability. For all the films, only simple fcc solid solutions with (111) preferred orientations were found, with crystallite sizes in the range 7.2-13.5 nm. The coatings were subjected to compressive stress, with values ranging from 0.8 to 1.6 GPa. The carbide coating with the highest carbon content (carbon/metal ≈1.3) exhibited the highest hardness of about 31 GPa, the best friction behavior (µ = 0.12) and the highest wear resistance (wear rate K=0.2×10(-6)mm(3)N(-1)m(-1)), when testing in simulated body fluids (SBFs). Cell viability tests proved that the osteoblast cells were adherent to the coated substrates, and a very high percentage of live cells were observed on sample surfaces, after 72 h incubation time.
Subject(s)
Alloys/chemistry , Coated Materials, Biocompatible/chemistry , Alloys/metabolism , Alloys/toxicity , Biomimetic Materials/metabolism , Body Fluids/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Survival/drug effects , Coated Materials, Biocompatible/metabolism , Coated Materials, Biocompatible/toxicity , Corrosion , Hafnium/chemistry , Humans , Mechanical Phenomena , Niobium/chemistry , Surface Properties , Tantalum/chemistry , Titanium/chemistry , Zirconium/chemistryABSTRACT
In the last decade, considerable research effort was directed to the deposition of multilayer films with layer thicknesses in the nanometer range (superlattice coatings), in order to increase the performance of various cutting tools and machine parts. The goal of the present work was to investigate the main microstructural, mechanical and wear resistance characteristics of a superlattice coating, consisting of alternate multilayer ZrN/TiAIN films, with various bilayer periods (5 / 20 nm). The coatings were deposited by the cathodic arc method on Si, plain carbon steel and high speed steel substrates to be used as wear resistance surfaces. The multilayer structures were prepared by using shutters placed in front of each cathode (Zr and Ti+Al). The characteristics of multilayer structures (elemental and phase composition, texture, Vickers microhardness, thickness, adhesion, and wear resistance) were determined by using various techniques (AES, XPS, XRD, microhardness measurements, scratch, and tribological tests). A comparison with the properties of ZrN and TiAIN single-layer coatings was carried out.
ABSTRACT
In recent years, the smart materials have attracted much attention due to their unusual properties such as shape memory effect and pseudoelasticity, being widely used for biomedical implants. These materials contain certain amounts of nickel, titanium and others which are not adequate for surgical implants and prosthesis. In the work reported here, two types of nonostructured multilayer coatings (TiN/ZrN, ZrN/Zr) used to prevent the ions release from shape memory alloys were investigated. For comparison, the TiN and ZrN monolayers were also examined. The films were deposited onto nickel-titanium based alloy (Ti-Ni-Nb) and Ni substrates by vacuum arc deposition technique under various deposition conditions. The concentrations of dissolved ions in Ringer solution for uncoated and coated Ni samples were determined to examine the benefic barrier effect of these coatings for ions release from shape memory alloys. In order to have a more complete characterization of the investigated coatings, other properties such as elemental and phase composition, morphology, texture, microhardness, and adhesion were studied. For all coatings, the concentrations of dissolved ions were lower that those measured in the case of the uncoated specimens. The nanostructured multilayer films exhibited the best mechanical and anticorrosive properties.
