Protective Coatings for Zirconium-Based Alloys: Improving their Mechanical and Biological Properties by YSZ Coating

Abstract

Zirconium is widely utilized in biomedical implants because of its exceptional properties, including corrosion resistance, wear behavior, and biocompatibility. However, these implants might have certain unfavorable effects since they lack surface features. Therefore, it is essential to establish the surface properties required for zirconium implants. Particularly, yttria-stabilized zirconia  has demonstrated potential in controlling the biological and mechanical reactions to Zr. A zirconium 705 substrate was coated, ceramic coatings were developed using spray-grade yttria-stabilized zirconia (8YSZ), synthesized via the sol-gel method. The layer was seen using XRD , a scanning microscope and  EDS mapping process which displays the spatial distribution of Zr, O, and Y in the 8YSZ layer; The zirconium alloy coated layer exhibited a 64% decrease in the coefficient of friction, a 41.3% improvement in hardness, and a 56% reduction in wear rate compared to the uncoated alloy.