Abstract:In order to solve the friction, wear and lubrication problems of titanium, a series of TaN/ployether- ether-ketone (PEEK) coatings were developed by electrophoretic deposition, and the effects of TaN nanoparticles on the microstructure, mechanical properties and tribological performance of coatings were explored. Results manifest that the introduction of TaN nanoparticles into PEEK coatings could improve the deposition efficiency, enhance the resistant deform capacity, increase the hardness, elastic modulus and adhesive bonding strength. Compared with the pure PEEK coating, the friction coefficient of P-TN-3 was greatly reduced by 31.25%. The wear resistance of P-TN-3 was also improved in huge boost, and its specific wear rate was decreased from 9.42×10^-5 to 1.62×10^-5 mm³·N^-1·m^-1. The homogeneous composite TaN/PEEK coatings prepared by electrophoretic deposition were well-adhered to the titanium alloy substrate, TaN nanoparticles could improve the strength of PEEK coating, and provide wear-resistance protection for titanium alloys.

Key words: ployether-ether-ketone coating; tantalum nitride; particle reinforcement; microstructure; mechanical properties; biotribology