Titanium Coatings on AISI 316L Stainless Steel Formed by Thermal Decomposition of TiH2 in Vacuum

Abstract

ABSTRACTTi-coated AISI 316L stainless steel, for potential biomedical applications, is obtained by thermal decomposition of TiH2 under vacuum. The presence of hydrogen in the coating material facilitates the sintering process of Ti particles, with simultaneous formation of several inter-diffusion layers at the substrate/coating interface, whose thickness and chemical composition depend mainly on the treatment temperature. Coatings prepared at 1100°C exhibit formation of a wide zone at the substrate/coating interface, which is associated with the appearance of cracks, and which consists of a mixture of λ + χ + α-Fe phases. Formation of abundant microporosity is also observed in this region, which is attributed to the Kinkerdall effect.