Effect of Titanium Content on the Composition, Wear Resistance and Biocompatibility of Ceramic Coatings in Zirconium-Titanium-Niobium Alloys

Zirconium alloys exhibit excellent corrosion resistance after thermal oxidation for use in artificial joints, but their wear resistance is relatively limited. In contrast, titanium offers superior wear resistance and biocompatibility. This study focuses on the ZrTiNb alloys after heat oxidation at 500 °C for 1 h, investigating the impact of varying titanium content on the surface morphology, coating film composition, corrosion resistance, friction and wear properties, and biocompatibility of ZrTiNb alloys. The surface layer was primarily composed of ZrO₂, TiO₂, and Nb₂O₅ after thermal oxidation treatment. As the titanium content increased, the proportion of TiO₂ within the oxide ceramic film increased significantly, altering the structure and properties of the oxide film. Electrochemical testing, scratch tests, and friction-wear experiments conducted in simulated body fluid indicated that moderate titanium content promotes dense oxide ceramic film formation, thereby exerting a beneficial effect on the corrosion and wear resistance of the alloy. However, excessively high titanium content leads to a porous oxide ceramic film structure with defects, consequently, the corrosion resistance of the alloy is diminished. Meanwhile, results generated by hemolysis tests, contact angle measurements, and cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that ZrTiNb alloys exhibit favorable biocompatibility, indicating their potential as orthopedic implant materials.