Tribological and biological behaviors of laser cladded Ti-based metallic glass composite coatings

[Display omitted] •Three kinds of metallic glass composite coatings were deposited by laser cladding.•With the addition of Sn and decrease of Ni, the amorphous content increases.•The wear resistances of coatings were improved in simulated body fluid solution.•The Ti51Zr5Cu41Sn3 coating present no cytotoxicity in vitro. In order to improve the wear resistance of pure Ti, three kinds of metallic glass composite coatings (MGCCs) with the compositions of Ti45Zr5Cu41Ni9, Ti45Zr5Cu41Ni6Sn3 and Ti51Zr5Cu41Sn3, were deposited on pure Ti by laser cladding. It is found that the order of amorphous phase percentage is Ti51Zr5Cu41Sn3 > Ti45Zr5Cu41Ni6Sn3 > Ti45Zr5Cu41Ni9. Compared to the pure Ti substrate, the wear resistances of three coatings were significantly improved in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. The wear resistance of MGCCs in SBF solution is in the order of Ti45Zr5Cu41Ni6Sn3 > Ti45Zr5Cu41Ni9 ≥ Ti51Zr5Cu41Sn3, which is attributed to the combination of fine grain strengthening and well corrosion resistance. XPS results imply that these coatings enable to induce the deposition of calcium phosphate which is excellent responsible for the bone formation. The CCK-8 test and cell adhesion experiments show that compared to pure Ti, the Ti51Zr5Cu41Sn3 coating was free of cytotoxicity, while Ti45Zr5Cu41Ni9 and Ti45Zr5Cu41Ni6Sn3 coatings have obvious cytotoxicity in vitro due to the high release rate of Cu and Ni ions from coatings. It is suggested that the Ti51Zr5Cu41Sn3 coating had not only well wear resistance, but also excellent biocompatibility.