Improved wear and corrosion resistance of biological compatible TiZrNb films on biomedical Ti6Al4V substrates by optimizing sputtering power

Abstract Biological compatible TiZrNb films were prepared on biomedical Ti6Al4V substrates by direct current magnetron sputtering, and the wear and corrosion resistance were effectively improved by optimizing the sputtering power. The as-deposited TiZrNb films are composed of columnar crystals with the hexagonal α-phase and cubic β-phase. The film deposited at 120 W exhibits the lowest weight loss and wear rate of 1.2 mg and 7.5 × 10−4 mm3/Nm, which are effectively reduced by 65.7% and 34.2% compared to the uncoated substrate, respectively. Owing to its largest grain size and greatest β-phase content, it also shows the minimum corrosion current of 20.50 nA·cm−2 and the highest polarization resistance of 2.67 × 103 kΩ·cm2, which is greatly enhanced by 161.8%. This work shows great potential and broad prospect of the surface modification of Ti6Al4V, which is of great significance for the further development of biomedical implants.