Investigation of Friction for Nanocoated and Uncoated Ti-6Al-4V Substrates via the Modified Pin-on-Disk Technique for Transfemoral Implants.

Nanocoating of biomedical materials has emerged as a crucial emerging discipline, to enhance tribological behaviors, durability, and performance of materials. This study aimed to investigate the tribological characteristics of substrates coated with Hydroxyapatite (HAp) and Silica glass (SiO2). In this experimental study, the substrates were Ti-6Al-4V, a widely used titanium alloy for osseointegration implants. The substrates were coated with 90% HAp and 10% SiO2 via the plasma cold spray technique. The friction examination was analyzed at room temperature and under the Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) condition using the pin-on-disc technique. The microstructural analysis confirmed the coated technique in producing a nano-sized layer. While the pin-on-disc test indicates that nanocoated Ti-6Al-4V specimens have a significantly higher average coefficient of friction than uncoated specimens, surface roughness is the primary contributor. Through microstructure properties and tribological behavior, the coated alloy may provide a benefit in circumstances, in which lubrication availability is restricted or undesirable, such as when the implant comes into contact with the bone interface.