Fabrication of ceramic coatings on the biodegradable ZM21 magnesium alloy by PEO coupled EPD followed by laser texturing process

Zirconia (ZrO2) incorporated ceramic coatings were fabricated on biodegradable ZM21 Mg alloy by the PEO coupled with EPD process. Subsequently, the sample surface was modified by laser texturing to improve the corrosion resistance, roughness and cell proliferation and growth properties. The corrosion performance of the fabricated samples along with the substrate was studied by electrochemical measurements under simulated body fluid (SBF) environment. The cell direct contact assay was conducted for the substrate and fabricated samples using L-929 mouse fibroblast cells for 24 h. The phase contrast images of cell direct contact assay revealed that fabricated samples exhibited better contact and response with the fibroblast cells, compared to the substrate. The addition of nanoparticles in the PEO process, called PEO coupled EPD process, resulted in attaining a higher thickness and improved corrosion performance of the samples than the PEO coated samples. Among all the samples, laser surface textured PEO, and PEO-EPD coated samples unveiled enhanced corrosion resistance, cell growth, thereby enabling it as a suitable prototype for biodegradable implant applications.