The Design and Characterization of New Chitosan, Bioglass and ZnO-Based Coatings on Ti-Zr-Ta-Ag

Abstract

The starting point of this study is a new alloy with rare metals such as Ta and Zr that has Ag in the composition, proven antibacterial properties. New coatings on Ti-Zr-Ta-Ag capable of improving the alloys’ properties and to be suitable for more applications have yet to be fabricated. New formulations based on chitosan (Ch) and bioglass (BG) were designed as multifunctional coatings to be deposited from suspensions on the mentioned alloy. To make the suspensions used for deposition, several samples were made containing Ch, BG and ZnO in various mass ratios. A number of solutions with different component ratios were produced and analyzed by ζ potential and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) to determine the most stable mixture, which was subsequently deposited on the Ti-Zr-Ta-Ag samples. The mixtures and the samples obtained after applying the coating were characterized from a morphological and compositional standpoint using Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Further analyses on the properties of the coating were performed using contact angle and roughness analysis. Zeta potential measurements demonstrated evidence of a good stability of the coatings. The size of the ceramic particles is between 1 and 10 μm. From the SEM, the morphology of all the components from the mixture containing chitosan, bioglass and ZnO are shown to be present on the surface. From the FTIR determination, all the functional groups that appear demonstrated evidence of the presence of BG, ZnO and chitosan. The contact angle values of the coated samples are in the hydrophilic domain but are higher compared to the uncoated alloy values. Such behavior is promising in a potential bioapplication.