Enhancing the Wear Performance of 316L Stainless Steel with Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> Coatings Deposited via DC Sputtering at Room Temperature under Varied Environmental Conditions
Murilo Oliveira Alves Ferreira,
Victor Auricchio Fernandes Morgado,
Kauê Ribeiro dos Santos,
Rogério Valentim Gelamo,
Fábio Edson Mariani,
Natália Bueno Leite Slade,
Mateus Mota Morais,
Carlos Alberto Fortulan,
Rodrigo Galo,
Renato Goulart Jasinevicius,
Haroldo Cavalcanti Pinto,
Jéferson Aparecido Moreto
Affiliations
Murilo Oliveira Alves Ferreira
Materials Engineering Department, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos 13563-120, SP, Brazil
Victor Auricchio Fernandes Morgado
Materials Engineering Department, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos 13563-120, SP, Brazil
Kauê Ribeiro dos Santos
Materials Engineering Department, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos 13563-120, SP, Brazil
Rogério Valentim Gelamo
Institute of Technological and Exact Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba 38064-200, MG, Brazil
Fábio Edson Mariani
Department of Production Engineering, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos 13566-590, SP, Brazil
Natália Bueno Leite Slade
Institute of Exact Sciences, Naturals and Education, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba 38064-200, MG, Brazil
Mateus Mota Morais
Mechanical Engineering Department, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos 13566-590, SP, Brazil
Carlos Alberto Fortulan
Mechanical Engineering Department, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos 13566-590, SP, Brazil
Rodrigo Galo
School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto 14040-904, SP, Brazil
Renato Goulart Jasinevicius
Mechanical Engineering Department, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos 13566-590, SP, Brazil
Haroldo Cavalcanti Pinto
Materials Engineering Department, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos 13563-120, SP, Brazil
Jéferson Aparecido Moreto
Materials Engineering Department, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos 13563-120, SP, Brazil
Niobium-based oxides have garnered increased attention in recent years for their remarkable enhancement of corrosion resistance, as well as biofunctional properties of various metallic materials, including 316L SS. However, the mechanical properties of these promising coatings have not been fully elucidated. This study investigated how much the environmental conditions (air, artificial saliva, and NaCl solution) impact the wear performance of 316L SS without and with Nb2O5 coatings deposited via the reactive sputtering technique. The results exhibited a notable decrease in friction coefficient (55% in air, 18% in artificial saliva, 10% in 0.9 wt% NaCl solution), wear area (46% in air, 36% in AS, 17.5% in 0.9 wt% NaCl solution), and wear rate (44.0% in air, 19.5% in AS, 12.0% in 0.9 wt% NaCl solution). Ultimately, the results obtained in the present study elucidate the synergistic mechanisms of corrosion and wear in 316L SS containing Nb2O5 coatings, highlighting its significant potential for applications in the biomedical sector.
