Surface Roughness-Dependent Morphology and Corrosion Protection of Polymeric–Ceramic ZnO Nanocoatings on Ti6Al4V Alloys
Coatings, cilt.16, sa.7, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 16 Sayı: 7
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.3390/coatings16070823
- Dergi Adı: Coatings
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Applied Science & Technology Source, Compendex, Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: corrosion resistance, organic–inorganic nanocoatings, surface roughness, Ti6Al4V alloy, wettability, ZnO nanoparticles
- İstanbul Yeni Yüzyıl Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The release of aluminum (Al) and vanadium (V) ions represents a critical concern limiting the long-term performance and biocompatibility of Ti6Al4V-based permanent orthopedic implants. This study focuses on improving the corrosion resistance of Ti6Al4V alloys through the application of a novel organic–inorganic ZnO nanocoating. In addition, the present study investigated the influence of substrate roughness on surface morphology, microhardness, and wettability characteristics. Xanthan gum (XG) and celite (CE) were utilized as a biopolymeric–ceramic matrix for the ceramic–biopolymer-assisted synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) through ultrasonication, which was subsequently followed by deposition onto Ti6Al4V substrates with varying surface roughness (Ra) achieved through controlled turning. The synthesized XG/CE-ZnO NPs exhibited a uniform spherical morphology with an average particle size of nearly 50 nm and a hexagonal wurtzite crystalline structure, as confirmed by TEM, XRD, and FTIR analyses. Contact angle (CA) measurements indicated that wettability increased with higher Ra, while SEM with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy characterization revealed morphology transitions from smooth, homogeneous coatings to agglomerate, star-like nanostructures as Ra increased. Electrochemical testing in Ringer’s solution demonstrated a significant improvement in corrosion resistance after coating, with protection efficiencies ranging from 95.18% to 98.48%, particularly for smoother substrates. Although increased Ra may enhance coating adhesion through mechanical interlocking, smoother substrates promote the formation of more homogeneous coatings, resulting in superior corrosion protection. These results demonstrate the significant influence of substrate topography in enhancing the functional performance of biocompatible ZnO nanocoatings, providing valuable insights for the surface engineering of metallic implants.