Open AccessContribution of Titanium, Chromium and Carbon Buffer Interlayers to Bio-Tribological Properties of Multilayer Composites
Author(s) -
Ł. Major,
M. Janusz,
J.M. Lackner,
B. Major
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
archives of metallurgy and materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.258
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 2300-1909
pISSN - 1733-3490
DOI - 10.1515/amm-2016-0228
Subject(s) - materials science , titanium , titanium nitride , composite material , chromium nitride , microstructure , sputter deposition , coating , tin , layer (electronics) , tribology , chromium , metallurgy , ceramic , nitride , thin film , sputtering , nanotechnology
Research studies on bio-tribological protective coatings of titanium, chromium and carbon based have been performed. Thin films were fabricated by hybrid PLD technique (PLD supported by magnetron sputtering). Coatings consisted of two parts; the inner part (first from the substrate) in each case was formed by titanium or chromium/titanium nitride or chromium nitride (Ti/TiN or Cr/Cr2N). The outer part was formed by pure DLC or multilayer DLC/Ti or Cr. No delamination was found at the interface. Titanium or chromium metallic layer was deposited as a first layer directly on the metallic substrate to avoid delamination. All individual layers were built of columnar nano-crystallites. Mechanisms of the mechanical wear of analyzed systems were presented, focusing on the cracking propagation in ball-on-disc tests using an 1 N and 5 N applied loads for 5 000 cycles. Complex microstructure analysis of presented nano-multilayer coatings, before and after mechanical tests, were performed by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The highest stress concentration during mechanical uploading was moved through the multilayer coating by breaking only one layer at the time. The microstructure characterization revealed that cracking propagating in the outer part of the coating was stopped at the interface. In the case of the inner part of the coating Ti/TiN; Cr/Cr2N, ceramic layers showed brittle cracking, while metallic (Ti or Cr) ones deformed plastically. Fabricated coatings were subjected under the analysis in the biomechanical system optimized to test for the direct contact with a human whole blood. The study considered physiological conditions mainly related to the temperature and humidity and the frequency of cyclic deformation of the artificial vessel into which the tested sample was introduced