Electrophoretic deposition of bioactive glass coating on 316L stainless steel and electrochemical behavior study

In this research, submicron bioactive glass (BG) particles were synthesized by a sol–gel process and were then coated on a 316L stainless steel substrate using an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique. Stable suspension of bioactive glass powders in ethanol solvent was prepared by addition of triethanol amine (TEA), which increased zeta potential from 16.5 ± 1.6 to 20.3 ± 1.4 (mv). Thickness, structure and electrochemical behavior of the coating were characterized. SEM studies showed that increasing EPD voltage leads to a coating with more agglomerated particles, augmented porosity and micro cracks. The results of Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed the adsorption of TEA via methyl and amid groups on bioactive glass particles. Presence of bioactive glass coating reduced corrosion current density (icorr) and shifted corrosion potential (Ecorr) toward more noble values in artificial saliva at room temperature. Percent porosity of the coating measured by potentiodynamic polarization technique increased as EPD voltage was raised. The results of impedance spectroscopic studies demonstrated that the coating acts as a barrier layer in artificial saliva.