A Two-Step Approach to Tune the Micro and Nanoscale Morphology of Porous Niobium Oxide to Promote Osteointegration

We present a two-step surface modification process to tailor the micro and nano morphology of niobium oxide layers. Niobium was firstly anodized in spark regime in a Ca- and P-containing solution and subsequently treated by acid etching. The effects of anodizing time and applied potential on the surface morphology is investigated with SEM and AFM, complemented by XPS compositional analysis. Anodizing with a limiting potential of 250 V results in the fast growth of oxide layers with a homogeneous distribution of micro-sized pores. Cracks are, however, observed on 250 V grown layers. Limiting the anodizing potential to 200 V slows down the oxide growth, increasing the anodizing time needed to achieve a uniform pore coverage but produces fracture-free oxide layers. The surface nano morphology is further tuned by a subsequent acid etching process that leads to the formation of nano-sized pits on the anodically grown oxide surface. In vitro tests show that the etching-induced nanostructure effectively promotes cell adhesion and spreading onto the niobium oxide surface.

Controlled synthesis of multifunctional coatings by micro-arc oxidation method

The article is devoted to the development of the methodology for the controlled synthesis of protective coatings by the micro-arc oxidation method in order to improve the efficiency of this technology and the quality of the obtained oxide layers. Methodology includes a mathematical model of a galvanic cell based on an equivalent electrical circuit, as well as a model of the interconnections between the technological parameters of the micro-arc oxidation (MAO) process and the properties of the obtained oxide layers based on graph theory. The indicated dependences are formalized using methods of regression and correlation analysis of experimental data. A technique for the controlled synthesis of MAO coatings using the obtained regression equations is proposed. The structure and functioning algorithm of an intelligent automated system for the controlled synthesis of MAO coatings are developed. A prototype of this system was used to obtain experimental dependences of reaction parameters on the influence parameters of the micro-arc oxidation process.

Suppression of molten salt corrosion by plasma sprayed Ni3Al coatings

Corrosion behaviour of stainless steel 347 was investigated in a molten nitrate salt (60 wt% NaNO3 + 40 wt% KNO3) immersion at 565 °C for up to 3000 h. A growth of stratified oxide layers consisting of NaFeO2, Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 was observed on the stainless steel surface with a constant gravimetric corrosion rate of ~ 0.4 µm/year. The feasibility of using Ni3Al coatings deposited by means of air plasma spray for suppression of corrosion was investigated. Ni3Al coatings were observed to undergo a fast oxidation with a corrosion rate of ~ 2.7 µm/year in the first 500 h, and subsequently stabilise between 500 and 3000 h with no observable changes in microstructure, composition and weight at a corrosion rate of ~ 0.02 µm/year. The results presented in this study strongly suggest that Ni3Al coating suppresses the formation of oxide layers on the surface of stainless steel substrates and can be used as protection against corrosion in the presence of molten nitrate salts, which is of relevance to thermal energy storage applications.

Reactive Air Brazing of TiAl Alloy Using Ag-CuO: Microstructure and Joint Properties

TiAl alloy was successfully brazed with Ag-CuO filler in air atmosphere under simple technical conditions. The wettability of a series of Ag-CuO fillers on TiAl was analyzed. Ag-2mol%CuO filler possessed good wetting behavior on TiAl alloy. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the brazed joints were investigated. Oxide layers can be found on both sides, which can be divided into external TiO2-rich layer and internal Al2O3-rich layer. The maximum shear strength of the joint was obtained at 1020 °C holding for 20 min.