Tribocorrosion-resistant Ti40Nb-TiN composites havingTiO(2)-based nanotubular surfaces

Abstract

A novel multifunctional material was developed byhard TiN particle reinforcement addition to a beta-type Ti40Nb alloy,followed by surface functionalization, yielding the formation of ananotubular layer. Corrosion and tribocorrosion behaviors wereinvestigated in a phosphate-buffered saline solution at bodytemperature. The results revealed that the Ti40Nb-TiNcomposites presented similaripassandE(i=0)values together withrelatively similarRoxandCox. However, its tribocorrosion resistancedrastically improved (wear volume is almost 15 times lower than anunreinforced alloy) as a consequence of the load-carrying effectgiven by the reinforcement phases. The corrosion and tribocorro-sion behaviors were further improved through surface functionaliza-tion as observed by significantly loweripassand higherRoxvalues andalmost undetectable wear volume loss from tribocorrosion tests dueto the formation of a well-adhered anatase-rutile TiO2-based nanotubular layer.