Characterization of mechanical properties and electrochemical behaviour in a Hank´s solution of 316L/Cr1- xAlxN system

Cr1-xAlxN hard coatings were successfully deposited by R.F. reactive magnetron co-sputtering in an Ar/N2 gas mixture using chromium and aluminium targets on 316L stainless steel substrates. Crystallographic orientations associated to the Cr1-xAlxN FCC based in the conjugate complex of CrN and w-AlN phases, with ao=4.18A lattice parameter for the ternary Cr1-xAlxN compound were identified by X-Ray diffraction. The thickness and roughness of the deposited coatings are 1.00±0.05nm and 2.65±0.6nm, respectively. The mechanical properties were determined by nanoindentation leading to a hardness of 27.8±2.6GPa and elastic modulus of 346GPa. The corrosion resistance of the coated 316L/Cr1-xAlxN system under simulated body fluid (SBF, Hank's solution) was determined via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. A reduction in the corrosion rate of 99% in relation to uncoated 316L stainless steel substrate was found by Tafel. Thus, these coatings seem to be excellent candidates to be used in biomedical applications.