Effects of solution composition and electrophoretic deposition voltage on various properties of nanohydroxyapatite coatings on the Ti13Zr13Nb alloy

The purpose of the research was to establish the influence of the solution composition and the electrophoretic deposition voltage on the coating homogeneity and thickness, nanohardness, adhesion, corrosion resistance and wettability. The Ti13Zr13Nb alloy was coated by the electrophoretic technique with hydroxyapatite in a solution containing 0.1, 0.2 or 0.5 g nanoHAp in 100 mL of suspension and at voltage 15, 30 or 50 V. The scanning electron and atomic force microscopies, polarization curves technique for corrosion assessment, nanoindentation and nanoscratch tests, and measurements of contact angle in simulated body fluid were performed. The obtained results revealed the complex and interrelated effects of both process determinants on the structure and properties of hydroxyapatite coatings, which were attributed to the role of the size, shape and content in suspension of hydroxyapatite particles.