Modification of TiAlV Alloys with Hybrid Layers Containing Metallic Nanoparticles Obtained by the Sol–Gel Method: Surface and Structural Properties

Abstract

The aim of the work was to obtain hybrid coatings containing silver, copper, and zinc nanoparticles on the TiAlV medical alloy via a sol–gel process. The developed layers were designed to bring about a bactericidal and fungicidal effect, as well as for protection against surgical scratches during the implantation of implants used in veterinary medicine. In this work, the authors focused on evaluating the microstructure (SEM + EDS); the structure (XRD, FTIR); and the surface properties, such as wettability, free surface energy, and roughness of layers with various concentrations of metallic nanoparticles (2 and 5 mol %). Our results confirmed that the sol–gel method enables the easy manufacturing of hybrid layers endowed with different porosity values as well as various shapes and sizes of metallic nanoparticles. A higher concentration of nanoparticles was observed on the surface containing 5 mol % of metallic salts. The highest degree of homogeneity was obtained for the layers containing silver nanoparticles. In addition, the silver nanoparticles were round and had the smallest dimensions, even below 20 nm. The FTIR and XRD structural studies confirmed the presence of an organosilicon matrix containing all three types of the metallic particles. We conclude that the higher concentration of nanoparticles influenced the alloy surface parameters.