Functional Nb2O5 film and Nb2O5+ CuO, Nb2O5+ Graphene, Nb2O5+ CuO + Graphene composite films to modify the properties of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy

Abstract In this paper comparative studies on the structural, mechanical and corrosion properties of Nb 2 O 5 thin film and Nb 2 O 5 + Graphene, Nb 2 O 5 + CuO and Nb 2 O 5 + CuO + Graphene composite thin films on Ti6Al4V titanium alloy have been investigated. The layers on which the Nb 2 O 5 and Nb 2 O 5 + CuO were deposited by the magnetron sputtering method were crack free and exhibited good adherence to the substrate, and the surface morphology was homogeneous. The graphene transferred on to the Nb 2 O 5 as a single layer without defects. The hardness of the Nb 2 O 5 was approx. 4.78 GPa while the Nb 2 O 5 + CuO had a hardness of 9.19 GPa. The graphene coating had no effect on surface hardness but it decreased the electrochemical activity. The best corrosion resistance was displayed by the Ti6Al4V sample with an Nb 2 O 5 + Graphene thin film.