The Wear and Wettability Performance of ZrN and CrN Film Deposited on β-Type TNTZ Alloy by Magnetron Sputtering

In this study, CrN and ZrN films were coated onto the surfaces of β-type Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr alloy (TNTZ), which is used as a biomaterial, using the magnetron sputtering method. The structural and morphological analyses of CrN- and ZrN-coated TNTZ samples were performed with XRD, SEM, EDS, hardness and 3D optical profilometer. In order to determine the wettability and surface free energy properties of untreated TNTZ, CrN- and ZrN-coated TNTZ samples, contact angle measurements were taken with distilled water, hexadecane, ethylene glycol and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solutions. The effects of CrN- and ZrN-coated surfaces on friction and wear properties in dry and liquid conditions (PBS) were investigated by magnetron sputtering technique. The sample with the best hydrophobic and oleophobic properties was obtained from ZrN-coated TNTZ. The surface free energy values of the untreated, CrN- and TiN-coated TNTZ samples were measured as 38.20, 34.95 and 28.84 mN/m, respectively. It was determined that CrN- and ZrN-coated TNTZ sample surfaces increased the wear resistance with a protective barrier effect, and the best wear resistance was found in the ZrN-coated TNTZ sample in PBS environment. © The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International 2025.