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The influence of the laser treatment on the corrosion resistance of the Cr3C2-25(Ni20Cr) cermet coating on the Al7075 (EN, AW-7075) substrate (Cr3C2-25(Ni20Cr)/Al7075) was investigated. The coating was produced by the cold sprayed (CS) method. The tested coatings were irradiated with a laser spot speed of 600 mm/min, 800 mm/min, and 1000 mm/min. The mechanical properties of the Cr3C2-25(Ni20Cr)/Al7075 were characterized by microhardness (HV) measurements. The surface and microstructure of the specimens were observed by ascanning electron microscope (SEM) and other assistive techniques. The corrosion test of materials wascarried out by using the electrochemical method in the acidic chloride solution. Cermet coatings perfectly protect the Al7075 substrate against contact with an aggressive corrosion environment. The laser remelting process of the Cr3C2-25(Ni20Cr) layer caused the homogenization of the structure cermet coatings. The irradiation with the laser beam eliminates microcracks and pores on the Cr3C2-25(Ni20Cr) surface. However, the best effect of improving the anti-corrosion properties of cermet coating was obtained for the lowest laser spot speed (i.e., 600 mm/min). It was found that the corrosion rate of the Cr3C2-25(Ni20Cr) cermet coating was reduced by more than two times compared to the highest speed of the laser spot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial contamination of medical devices and treatment rooms leads to several detrimental hospital and device-associated infections. Antimicrobial copper coatings are a new approach to control healthcare-associated infections (HAI's). This review paper focuses on the efficient methods for depositing highly adherent copper-based antimicrobial coatings onto a variety of metal surfaces. Antimicrobial properties of the copper coatings produced by various deposition methods including thermal spray technique, electrodeposition, electroless plating, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), and sputtering techniques are compared. The coating produced using different processes did not produce similar properties. Also, process parameters often could be varied for any given coating process to impart a change in structure, topography, wettability, hardness, surface roughness, and adhesion strength. In turn, all of them affect antimicrobial activity. Fundamental concepts of the coating process are described in detail by highlighting the influence of process parameters to increase antimicrobial activity. The strategies for developing antimicrobial surfaces could help in understanding the mechanism of killing the microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]