In-Vitro Corrosion and Wear Studies of Ceramic Layers on Additively Manufactured Zr Metal for Implant Applications

In the present study, an attempt has been made to develop in-situ grown ceramic layer on additively manufactured Zr metal by thermal oxidation (TO) treatment. Detailed characterization and testings were performed to determine the thickness of the ceramic layer, oxide phases, hardness, surface roughness, wettability in-vitro wear, and in-vitro corrosion resistance of theses oxidized specimens. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of ZrO 2 in the in-situ oxide layer and its thickness increased significantly at higher oxidation temperatures. However, among the samples, lowest in-vitro wear rate (2.12 ± 0.36 × 10 –6 mm 3 /N m) was demonstrated by the samples oxidized at 600 °C for 6 h. Further this obtained wear rate was correleted with thickness of oxide layer, contact angle, surface rougness, and hardness. It is also noticed that the formation of oxide phases on Zr significantly increase the in-vitro corrosion resistance compared to untreated Zr substrate in Hanks Balanced Salt solution (HBSS).