Study on the ZrN/Ag2O Micro–Nano Gradient Composite Structure Constructed on Pure Ti for Biomaterials

Tian Tian,Kai Yang,Fengkun Li,Pingze Zhang,Bo Dang,Feng Ding,Jianzhi Yuan,Dongbo Wei

doi:10.3390/coatings11060677

Tian Tian, Kai Yang + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11060677

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Journal: Coatings	Publication Date: Jun 3, 2021
Citations: 2	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Abstract

Titanium and titanium alloys have been extensively utilized in biomedical implants due to their excellent comprehensive mechanical properties and biocompatibility. In this study, a ZrN/Ag2O micro–nano gradient composite structure was prepared on the surface of pure Ti by multi-arc ion plating (MAIP) technique and metal vapor vacuum arc (MEVVA) ion implantation technology. This study indicated that a dramatic improvement in performance in the surface hardness (~1800 HV0.1) was attributed to the presence of the ceramic phase (ZrN) with high hardness included in composite structure. The relatively low wear rate of gradient composite structure confirmed its excellent performance in abrasion resistance and the abrasion mechanism of gradient composite structure was mainly abrasive wear. After the potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests, because of the synergy effect of ZrN micron coating and Ag2O nanoparticles, the ZrN/Ag2O gradient coatings indicated the highest free corrosion potential (Ecorr) and lowest corrosion current density (icorr) in Ringer’s solution, and the polarization resistances of multilayer coatings were greater than that of the substrate, exhibiting positive effects on retarding localized corrosion tendency. Additionally, the suitable dose of ZrN/Ag2O gradient composite coating can obtain antibacterial ability, which exerts no significant cytotoxicity and even excellent cytocompatibility over a longer service process. Furthermore, this study is conducive to design and develop for multifunctional coatings of implant materials.

Highlights

In the modern medical field, biomedical materials have been widely used in substituting human organs and tissues and modifying their functions to satisfy diversified requirements [1,2,3]
Thereinto, titanium and its alloys, due to their adequate biocompatibility and comprehensive mechanical properties, have been the most frequently used metallic materials for surgical implantation, such as artificial joint and bone [4,5]. Their application and development are restricted to a certain extent by their poor hardness, wear resistance and antibacterial properties
After the multi-arc ion plating (MAIP) process treatment, the high energy metal ion implanter with a metal vapor vacuum arc (MEVVA) ion source (LZX-700, Beijing Technol Science Co., Ltd., Beijing, China) was used to implant different doses of silver ions into the zirconium nitride (ZrN) coating obtained in previous step

Summary

Introduction

In the modern medical field, biomedical materials have been widely used in substituting human organs and tissues and modifying their functions to satisfy diversified requirements [1,2,3]. Thereinto, titanium and its alloys, due to their adequate biocompatibility and comprehensive mechanical properties, have been the most frequently used metallic materials for surgical implantation, such as artificial joint and bone [4,5] Their application and development are restricted to a certain extent by their poor hardness, wear resistance and antibacterial properties. The surface of titanium alloys does not have effective antibacterial properties, resulting in bacterial adhesion to form bacterial biofilm [8,9,10] In their course of service, bacterial infection and the related risk of infection associated with the implants are counted among the most serious complications. Both of these issues would influence the service time and usage effect of insertion or implantation, or even its failure [11,12,13,14]

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