SiC‐ and Ag‐SiC‐Doped Hydroxyapatite Coatings Grown Using Magnetron Sputtering on Ti Alloy for Biomedical Application

Abstract

SiC‐ and Ag‐SiC‐doped hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings were deposited via magnetron sputtering aiming at increased corrosion protection of Ti‐10Nb‐10Zr‐5Ta alloy in simulated body fluid environment and superior mechanical properties compared to plain hydroxyapatite. The coatings had a total thickness of about 350 nm. The X ray diffraction patterns indicate that HA coatings are polycrystalline with a hexagonal structure and the addition of SiC determined the coating amor-phization. All coatings presented a lower roughness compared to the Ti alloy and were hydrophilic. Ag‐SiC‐HA coating presented the best corrosion resistance and tribological parameters. All coatings were biocompatible, as ascertained via indirect cytocompatibility studies conducted on Vero cells.