Comparative Study on Wear Behaviors of Monolayer and Heterogeneous Multilayer Ta Coatings in Atmospheric and SBF Environments

Abstract

Monolayer Ta and multilayer Ti/Zr/Ta and Zr/Ti/Ta coatings were prepared by magnetron sputtering on TC4 substrates to improve the surface friction and wear properties in a simulated body fluid (SBF) environment and an atmospheric environment. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy and nano scratch testing were employed to establish the structure-property-environment relationships. By controlling the preparation parameters, the outermost layer of all three samples was Ta coating, and the total coating thickness of each sample was about 3 μm. Friction and wear testing revealed that, compared to bare TC4 substrate, and multilayer Ti/Zr/Ta and Zr/Ti/Ta coatings, the monolayer Ta possessed the lowest friction coefficient as well as the minimum wear rate (i.e., calculation result of the wear track width and wear depth). This was mainly attributed to excellent adhesion strength, a particular structure and solid lubrication of the monolayer coating. The same coating sample exhibited a stronger wear resistance in the SBF environment than in the atmospheric environment. Furthermore, the wear behaviors and mechanisms of various coatings under different experimental environments are also discussed.

Microstructure and Properties of Monolayer Ta and Multilayer Ta/Ti/Zr/Ta Coatings Deposited on Biomedical Ti-6Al-4V Alloy by Magnetron Sputtering

“…It is worth noting that the track depth on the Ta/Ti/Zr/Ta coating increased, which could be attributed to the weak adhesion strength of the coatings to the substrate under high normal load. This might have been caused by the poor adhesion of the multiple layers, and because each layer had a smaller thickness [36]. Moreover, Figure 7d presents the wear rate of the different samples based on the wear track profiles; the descending order of the wear rate is as follows: TC4 > Ta/Ti/Zr/Ta > Ta.…”

Gradient Coating of Laser Cladding TiB2/Ti-Based Alloy on Titanium Alloy Surface

“…Moreover, due to the high specific fracture toughness, good medium and low temperature toughness and high melting point, titanium alloys are also extensively used in the manufacturing of various accessories of aero-engine casings, such as cups, double hinges, anti-icing shells and afterburner impellers of fuel systems, etc. [3,4]. Titanium alloy has been widely used in ships, metallurgical equipment, chemical machinery and other fields.…”