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The ZrN/Zr/a-C multilayered coatings were deposited onto Ti6Al4V and Si substrates using a closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering. The morphology and microstructure of the multilayers were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The multilayer consists of a-C layers, Zr layers and ZrN layers. The Zr interlayers can improve the weak adhesion between a-C layers and ZrN layers. The multilayer exhibits a low residual stress of − 0.5 GPa and a hardness of 18.7 GPa. The tribological properties were evaluated by a ball-on-disk tribometer. The friction coefficient and wear rate of the multilayer in fetal bovine serum (FBS) kept very low values during sliding at an applied load of 2 N, which indicated excellent long-term wear resistance. What is more, the multilayer also presented a low wear rate in FBS even at a high applied load of 10 N. Additionally, the corrosion resistance of Ti6Al4V in Hank's solution is significantly improved by the multilayer. This study demonstrates that the ZrN/Zr/a-C multilayer exhibits excellent performance including low residual stress, high corrosion resistance as well as good bio-tribological properties and it is proper to protect Ti6Al4V alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel ionothermal strategy for developing a chemical conversion film on magnesium alloys is proposed based on the interaction of a deep eutectic solvent (DES) with the substrate. Upon heating the choline chloride/urea mixture-based DES can react with the AZ31B magnesium alloy surface to form a promising anti-corrosion conversion film. Interestingly, the chemical conversion film is mainly composed by MgH 2 and MgCO 3 phases. The as-grown conversion film exhibits superhydrophobicity after surface modification in a stearic acid/ethanol solution. Electrochemical tests and visual investigations indicate the corrosion resistance of the magnesium alloy can be improved by the conversion film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

a-C/a-C:Ti multilayer films were deposited on medical Ti6Al4V alloy using a closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering system with various substrate bias duty cycle. The tribological and corrosion behaviors of the multilayer films in Hank's solution were evaluated by a ball-on-disk tribometer and an electrochemical workshop. The duty cycle has a significant effect on the bonding structure, and mechanical and tribological properties of the films. The polarization resistance of the films on Ti alloy is approximately ten times more than that of Ti6Al4V which indicates that higher corrosion resistance can be achieved in Hank's solution at 37 °C. However, the polarization resistance and corrosion current do not change so much with the variation of duty cycle, implying that its influence on corrosion behavior of these a-C/a-C:Ti multilayer films is not so obvious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomedical Ti6Al4V alloy exhibits excellent mechanical and anti-corrosion properties but poor wear resistance. In order to improve the combination performance of Ti6Al4V alloy, Zr-doped graphite-like carbon (GLC) nanomultilayer and nanocomposite coatings are deposited by magnetron sputtering. The microstructures of the coatings are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The Zr-doped GLC nanomultilayer shows low friction coefficient and wear rate at applied loads of 1 N and 3 N in Hank's solution. In addition, both the Zr-doped GLC nanomultilayer and nanocomposite coatings present high corrosion resistance, which results from the corrosion-resistant GLC and zirconium oxide. Compared to the Zr-doped GLC nanocomposite, the nanomultilayer is more promising in the applications under simultaneously tribological and corrosive conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]