Corrosion Behavior of Ti–13Zr–13Nb Alloy Coated by Dip and Electrophoretic Deposition with YSZ/TiO2: A Comparative Investigation

The objective of this research was to examine the effects of YSZ/TiO2 composite coatings applied to the surface of Ti–13Zr–13Nb titanium alloy in order to improve its biocompatibility and functionality in the context of medical applications. Experimental evaluations of corrosion as well as the tape testing was conducted in this research endeavor on joint implant alloys composed of Ti–13Zr–13Nb and coated with YSZ/TiO2 nanoceramic. The parameters utilized in the electrophoretic deposition procedure were as follows: 60 V, 7 min, 15% concentration, and 400 degrees of grinding. The parameters of the dip coating conditions were as follows: 60°C temperature, 10 s of grinding time, 15% concentration, while 400 degrees. For analysis purposes, we employed high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images of the coated alloys. A comprehensive examination of the thickness and microstructure of the coated surfaces was performed by employing atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical microscopy. The corrosion resistance of the titanium alloys with a top coating was evaluated using electrochemical techniques, namely cyclic polarization and polarizing (Tafel), in a body fluid simulator (SBF). In order to evaluate the adhesive strength of the coatings, a tape tester was employed. Using the subsequent values, the corrosion resistance of the coated Ti–13Zr–13Nb alloys was assessed: at 37°C, both coating alloys demonstrated enhanced resistance to corrosion in Ringer’s solution. In contrast, corrosion was observed to be slower in the Ti–13Zr–13Nb alloy coated via electrophoretic deposition than in the alloy coated via dip coating (8.282 × 10–8 vs. 2.166 × 10–7, respectively).