Nitride, Zirconia, Alumina, and Carbide Coatings on Ti6Al4V Femoral Heads: Effect of Deposition Techniques on Mechanical and Tribological Properties

Ti6Al4V has been extensively studied in orthopedic applications because of its biocompatibility, desirable mechanical strength, and fatigue resistance. A wide range of bioinert ceramics have been investigated to further develop the tribological and mechanical properties of Ti6Al4V for the production of potential femoral heads. However, an analysis of the literature indicates that the performance of the coatings produced has been inconsistent. In this review, for the first-time deposition techniques of the most widely studied bioinert ceramics namely nitrides, carbides, zirconia, and alumina on Ti6Al4V substrates and their relevant mechanical and tribological performance have been analyzed. Finally, graphene has also been suggested for use together with bioinert ceramics due to its excellent mechanical and physical properties for coating Ti6Al4V femoral heads.