title: Growth and surface characterization of TiNbZr thin films deposited by magnetron sputtering for biomedical applications.
abstract: Low modulus of elasticity and the presence of non-toxic elements are important criteria for the development of materials for implant applications. Low modulus Ti alloys can be developed by designing β-Ti alloys containing non-toxic alloying elements such as Nb and Zr. Actually, most of the metallic implants are produced with stainless steel (SS) because it has adequate bulk properties to be used as biomaterials for orthopedic or dental implants and is less expensive than Ti and its alloys, but it is less biocompatible than them. The coating of this SS implants with Ti alloy thin films may be one alternative to improve the biomaterial properties at a relatively low cost. Sputtering is a physical deposition technique that allows the formation of nanostructured thin films. Nanostructured surfaces are interesting when it comes to the bone/implant interface due to the fact that both the surface and the bone have nanoscale particle sizes and similar mechanical properties. TiNbZr thin films were deposited on both Si(111) and stainless steel (SS) substrates. The TiNbZr/Si(111) film was used as a model system, while the TiNbZr/SS film might improve the biocompatibility and extend the life time of stainless steel implants. The morphology, chemical composition, Young's modulus, and hardness of the films were analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and nanoindentation.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Sao Carlos, Materials Science and Engineering Graduation Program, Via Washington Luis km 235, CEP 13565-905 Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Tallarico
authors.affiliation: Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory, Rua Giuseppe Máximo Scolfaro 10.000, CEP 13083-100 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gobbi
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Sao Carlos, Department of Materials Engineering, Via Washington Luis km 235, CEP 13565-905 Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Paulin Filho
authors.affiliation: Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Department of Physics, CEP 22451-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: M E H
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Maia da Costa
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Sao Carlos, Department of Materials Engineering, Via Washington Luis km 235, CEP 13565-905 Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: nascente@ufscar.br.
authors.forename: P A P
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Nascente
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D036103:Nanotechnology; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C090153:titanium alloy (TiNb13Zr13); D014025:Titanium
keywords: Biomaterials; Nanoindentation; Thin films; Titanium alloys; XPS