Tribological behavior of cold-sprayed titanium/baghdadite composite coatings in dry and simulated body fluid environments

Abstract

This study reports the tribological behavior of Titanium/Baghdadite cold sprayed composite coatings for artificial human joints in a dry and simulated body fluid environments. Sliding wear tests are performed using a wear test rig to predict the wear resistance of the coatings. An in-depth analysis of the worn-out coatings is also done to establish the wear mechanism for the developed coatings. Scratch adhesion and wettability analyses of the composite coatings have also been reported. The role of microhardness and surface roughness on the performance of the cold sprayed composite coatings is also discussed. It is discovered that cold sprayed composite coatings successfully protect the biomedical grade steel from wear in dry and simulated body fluid environments. Three-body abrasion wear and adhesive wear are the dominant mechanisms observed behind the wear of these coatings. Coatings are found to adhere well with the substrate, and the critical loads for the coatings' delamination are also reported. Furthermore, the coatings are found to be hydrophilic in nature, and the hydrophilicity is observed to be improving with an increase in baghdadite content.