Abstract
Nanostructured, biocompatible, TiC/Ti Supersonic Cold Gas Sprayed coatings were deposited onto a Ti6Al4V alloy and their
microstructure, wear resistance and hardness were investigated. The starting nanostructured powder, containing a varied mixture of
Ti and TiC particles, was produced by high energy ball milling. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive
X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction were used for structural and chemical analyses of powder particles and coatings. Coatings,
250-350 μm thick, preserving the nanostructure and chemical powder composition, with low porosity and relatively high
hardness (~850 HV), were obtained. These nanostructured TiC/Ti coatings exhibited better tribological properties than commonly
used biomedical benchmark materials, due to an appropriate balance of hard and soft nano-phases.
Go to article