Electroless Ni–B Coating of Pure Titanium Surface for Enhanced Tribocorrosion Performance in Artificial Saliva and Antibacterial Activity

Abstract

In the present study, the surface of commercial pure (Grade 2) titanium was coated with electroless Ni–B. The surface morphology, microstructure and phase identification were analysed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscope (FEG-SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The tribocorrosion performance in a laboratory simulated artificial saliva was investigated using a reciprocating ball-on-plate tribometer coupled to an electrochemical cell. The antibacterial property of the electroless Ni–B film coated on pure titanium was basically investigated. From this study, it may be concluded that this electroless Ni–B coating process cannot only improve the hardness and tribocorrosion performance of the pure titanium, but can also provide antimicrobial activity.