Surface Roughness-Dependent Morphology and Corrosion Protection of Polymeric–Ceramic ZnO Nanocoatings on Ti6Al4V Alloys
COATINGS, cilt.16, sa.7, ss.1-29, 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: Applied Science & Technology Source, Scopus, Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest), Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Compendex
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-29
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa 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.