Chromium nitride and oxynitride coatings were deposited as monolayers ((Cr–N), Cr(N,O)) and bilayers (Cr–N/Cr(N,O), Cr(N,O)/Cr–N) on 304 steel substrates by reactive cathodic arc method. The coatings were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), surface profilometry, and scratch tester. The anticorrosive properties of the coatings were assessed by electrochemical tests in 0.10 M NaCl + 1.96 M H₂O₂, carried out at 24 °C. Cr₂N, CrN, and Cr(N,O) phases were identified in the coatings by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GI-XRD) measurements. The measured adhesion values ranged from 19 N to 35 N, the highest value being obtained for the bilayer with Cr(N,O) on top. Electrochemical tests showed that Cr(N,O) presence in both mono- and bilayered coatings determined the lowest damage in corrosive solution, as compared to the Cr–N coatings. This improvement was ascribed to the more compact structure, lower coatings porosity, and smoother surface.

The reactive cathodic arc deposition technique was used to produce Ti nitride and oxynitride coatings on 304 stainless steel substrates (SS). Both mono (SS/TiN, SS/TiNO) and bilayer coatings (SS/TiN/TiNO and SS/TiNO/TiN) were investigated in terms of elemental and phase composition, microstructure, grain size, morphology, and roughness. The corrosion behavior in a solution consisting of 0.10 M NaCl + 1.96 M H₂O₂ was evaluated, aiming for biomedical applications. The results showed that the coatings were compact, homogeneously deposited on the substrate, and displaying rough surfaces. The XRD analysis indicated that both mono and bilayer coatings showed only cubic phases with (111) and (222) preferred orientations. The highest crystallinity was shown by the SS/TiN coating, as indicated also by the largest grain size of 23.8 nm, which progressively decreased to 16.3 nm for the SS/TiNO monolayer. The oxynitride layers exhibited the best in vitro corrosion resistance either as a monolayer or as a top layer in the bilayer structure, making them a good candidate for implant applications.

Osseointegration plays the most important role in the success of an implant. One of the applications of hydroxyapatite (HAp) is as a coating for metallic implants due to its bioactive nature, which improves osteoconduction. The purpose of this research was to assess the in vitro behavior of HAp undoped and doped with Ag and/or Sr obtained by galvanostatic pulsed electrochemical deposition. The coatings were investigated in terms of chemical bonds, contact angle and surface free energy, electrochemical behavior, in vitro biomineralization in acellular media (SBF and PBS), and biocompatibility with preosteoblasts cells (MC3T3-E1 cell line). The obtained results highlighted the beneficial impact of Ag and/or Sr on the HAp. The FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of hydroxyapatite within all coatings, while in terms of wettability, the contact angle and surface free energy investigations showed that all surfaces were hydrophilic. The in vitro behavior of MC3T3-E1 indicated that the presence of Sr in the HAp coatings as a unique doping agent or in combination with Ag elicited improved cytocompatibility in terms of cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Therefore, the composite HAp-based coatings showed promising potential for bone regeneration applications.

AISI H13 die steel specimens were subjected to heating at 1020 °C followed by oil quenching and double tempering at 520 °C. Subsequently, these specimens were subjected to deep cryogenic treatment at −185 °C in liquid nitrogen environment for 16 h and then subjected to soft tempering at 100 °C once the specimens attained room temperature. Thereafter, the specimens were subjected to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis. The electrochemical corrosion activity was investigated in 3.5% NaCl at 23 ± 0.5 °C by evaluating the evolution of open circuit potential over time and potentiodynamic curves, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study was also carried out. The heat-treated specimens exhibited better resistance to corrosion through more electropositive values of open circuit potential. This could be attributed to lower grain boundary area in heat-treated specimens as compared to 16 h cryogenically treated specimen as higher grain boundary areas behave as an anode in an electrochemical cell, thereby enhancing the rate of corrosion. According to electrochemical tests, the cryogenically treated surface is more resistant to corrosion, followed by heated alloy. However, both surface modification treatments improved the corrosion behavior of the untreated alloy.