Wear mechanisms of the biotribological nanocomposite a‐C : H coatings implanted by metallic nanoparticles

Abstract

Recently, to reduce the residual stress and increase the mechanical properties of a-C:H coatings, metallic nanoparticles have been implanted into their structure. In the present work, to improve the properties of the coating, metallic nanoparticles, including Cu, Nb, Ta, Zr, AgPt and Ag, were inserted into the a-C:H structure. The applied biological and mechanical analysis allowed the optimal biotribological parameters to be indicated for the potential application as protective coatings for metallic medical tools. Wear mechanisms operating at the small length of the designed biotribological coating, such as a-C:H implanted by Zr nanoparticles, were studied by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM analysis confirmed very good coating adhesion to the metallic substrate.

Wear mechanisms description in nanoscale by SEM/TEM of multilayer Zr/ZrN coatings in dependence on phases ratio

“…During the wear process, only the a‐C:H layer was damaged. The carbon layer was crushed during the wear process and as a result of the appropriate temperature during wear (resulting from friction) turns into graphite, that is, a natural lubricating material 25–28 …”

“…The carbon layer was crushed during the wear process and as a result of the appropriate temperature during wear (resulting from friction) turns into graphite, that is, a natural lubricating material. [25][26][27][28] In the described case, the outer carbon layer was cracked and the outer layer was mechanically seized onto the surface of the mixture of carbon (most likely in the form of graphite), zirconium and nitrides. The presence of zircon and zirconium nitride was related to the earlier removal of a fragment of the internal multilayer structure Zr/ZrN (Figure 9).…”