Cobalt–chromium (CoCr) alloys
offer outstanding wear resistance
when compared to other biocompatible metallic materials and are extensively
used in articulating surfaces of total hip and knee arthroplasty.
However, CoCr alloys’ biocompatibility is known to be inferior
to titanium (Ti). Wear- and corrosion-induced metal-ion release from
CoCr alloys has been reported to cause cancer and negative physiological
impacts. In this study, CoCr alloy was coated with commercially pure
Ti (CpTi) and CpTi–Silicon (CoCrTi–Si) with
the specific objective of reducing Co and Cr ion release during articulation,
without degrading the excellent wear resistance of the CoCr alloy.
Directed energy deposition (DED), a blown powder-based laser additive
manufacturing technique, was utilized to process CpTi- and CpTi–Si-based
coatings on Stellite 6B commercial CoCr alloy. Scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, and hardness testing found
that refined carbides and titanium silicides increased the hardness
from 321 ± 13 to 758 ± 48 HV0.5. Tribological
studies determined a comparable wear rate between Stellite 6B alloy
and CoCrTi–Si in DI water but a statistically significant
reduction in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM). The wear
rates for Stellite 6B were 8.5 ± 0.8 × 10–5 and 12.9 ± 0.4 × 10–5 mm3/Nm in DI water and DMEM, respectively. While the wear rates for
CoCrTi–Si were 9.1 ± 0.5 × 10–5 and 8.9 ± 0.8 × 10–5 mm3/Nm
in DI water and DMEM, respectively. Contact resistance acquisition
displayed the presence of a passive film formation during tribological
testing. ICP-MS results for Stellite 6B and CoCrTi–Si concluded a reduction of Co ions release in DI water from 149.8
± 66.7 to 17.5 ± 0.7 ppb and a reduction in Cr ions release
from 66.7 ± 32.4 to 18.0 ± 0.5 ppb, respectively. In DMEM
media, Co ion release for Stellite 6B and CoCrTi–Si reduced from 10.1 ± 1.4 to 4.1 ± 0.2 ppb and Cr ion release
for Stellite 6B and CoCrTi–Si reduced from 8.7 ±
0.2 to 5.0 ± 0.7 ppb, respectively. The current study revealed
a new mode of manufacturing for CoCr alloy-based load-bearing implants
that can reduce toxic metal ions release due to wear- and corrosion-induced
damages.