Low-temperature PVD binary and ternary nitride coatings for biomedical implant applications: Effect of target composition on various performance parameters
摘要
This research work focuses on binary and novel alloy-target-based ternary nitride low-temperature PVD coatings for implant applications. This study also contributes toward the application of TiAlN/316L coating system for orthopedic implants. TiN/316L, TiAlN(80:20)/316L, TiAlN(70:30)/316L, TiAlN(50:50)/316L coating systems are investigated for bio-tribo-mechanical-corrosive functional properties stack relating patients’ comfort, implants longevity, design configurations, and patient-specific requirements. The Coating systems are characterized by nano-indentation, micro-scratch, pin-on-disk tribometry, XRD, MTT assay, cell adhesion, open circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and potentiodynamic polarization. Coating systems showed 3.4 to 15.2 times improved surface hardness depending upon their configurations. Overall, maximum coating adhesion of 23.33N is achieved for a TiAlN(70:30)/316L configuration. The bio-corrosive protection efficiency of 91.20, 83.62, 80.92, and 63.99% is achieved for TiAlN(80:20)/316L, TiAlN(70:30)/316L, TiAlN(50:50)/316L, and TiN/316L, respectively. Comparable functional properties are obtained with low-temperature PVD and alloy targets corresponding to pure metal-targets saving industrial process time and cost.
Graphical abstract