INFLUENCE OF THIN COATINGS FORMED BY ALD TECHNIQUES ON THE PROPERTIES OF Ti13Nb13Zr TITANIUM ALLOY

Abstract

The article evaluates the properties of oxide films: Al2O3 and TiO2, deposited using the ALD method on the Ti13Nb13Zr alloy. It presents the results of examining the geometrical structure of the surface, nanohardness and tribological tests. The surface’s geometrical structure was tested through optical microscopy, and nanohardness was determined using the instrumental indentation method with a Berkovich indenter. The modelling tribological tests were performed in a reciprocating motion under the conditions of technically dry friction and with lubrication using Ringer's solution. An analysis of the results of tribological tests indicates that the films were characterised by lower motion resistances and wear with respect to the Ti13Nb13Zr alloy. Hardness measurements indicate that, as a result of deposition of the films, the hardness increased by approximately 51% in the case of the Al2O3 film and by approximately 44% in the case of the TiO2 coating. The produced test results constitute a source of knowledge about the Ti13Nb13Zr alloy, oxide films and the possibilities of their potential application to low-load biotribological systems.