{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,6]],"date-time":"2026-10-06T04:35:59Z","timestamp":1791261359149,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"21","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1762128000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Materials"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study presents an analysis of two titanium nitride-based coatings, TiCN and TiN:Ag, deposited on Ti6Al4V alloy by physical vapour deposition (PVD). The investigation focused on the characterisation of surface geometric structure and wettability, tribological parameters, and osseointegration. The purpose of the study was to obtain a better understanding of the interactions between the implant surface and the surrounding tissues and body fluids, which are essential for ensuring long-term durability. The results revealed significant differences in surface stereometric parameters between the coatings, with TiN:Ag exhibiting higher roughness values. These variations were reflected in the wettability tests, where the coating with a more developed surface topography (TiN:Ag) demonstrated contact angle values approximately 15% higher than those of TiCN. In contrast, tribological tests indicated superior performance of the TiCN coating, which exhibited lower coefficients of friction in artificial saliva at pH 5.8 and 6.8\u2014reduced by 20% and 36%, respectively, compared with TiN:Ag. The findings confirmed that surface topography exerts a decisive influence on both wettability and tribological behaviour of the coatings, aspects that must be considered in their design for implantological applications.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ma18215010","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T17:32:01Z","timestamp":1762191121000},"page":"5010","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Surface Texture, Wettability and Tribological Behavior of Titanium Nitride-Based Coatings Deposited on Ti6Al4V Titanium Alloy"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6366-2755","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Katarzyna","family":"Piotrowska","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering, Kielce University of Technology, al. Tysi\u0105clecia Pa\u0144stwa Polskiego 7, 25-314 Kielce, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9892-9181","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Monika","family":"Madej","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering, Kielce University of Technology, al. Tysi\u0105clecia Pa\u0144stwa Polskiego 7, 25-314 Kielce, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"e30455","article-title":"The Etiology and Management of Dental Implant Failure: A Review","volume":"14","author":"Kochar","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"373","DOI":"10.1097\/01.id.0000148564.88384.de","article-title":"Private Practice Results of Dental Implants. Part I: Survival and Evaluation of Risk Factors\u2014Part II: Surgical and Prosthetic Complications","volume":"13","author":"Kourtis","year":"2004","journal-title":"Implant Dent."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.3389\/fmech.2020.00001","article-title":"Progression of Bio-Tribocorrosion in Implant Dentistry","volume":"6","author":"Dini","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front. Mech. Eng. Sec. Tribol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1016\/j.msec.2013.09.031","article-title":"Influence of albumin on the tribological behavior of Ag-Ti (C, N) thin films for orthopedic implants","volume":"34","author":"Alves","year":"2014","journal-title":"Mater. Sci. Eng. C Mater. Biol. Appl."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"359","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jinorgbio.2012.09.012","article-title":"Characterization of Ti-C-N coatings deposited on Ti6Al4V for biomedical applications","volume":"117","author":"Viteri","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Inorg. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Madej, M., and Piotrowska, K. (2024). Characterisation of TiCN Coatings for Biomedical Applications. Coatings, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/coatings14060775"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"014402","DOI":"10.1088\/1468-6996\/15\/1\/014402","article-title":"Effects of surface coating on reducing friction and wear of orthopaedic implants","volume":"15","author":"Ching","year":"2014","journal-title":"Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"596","DOI":"10.1177\/00220345560350041401","article-title":"Establishing an Environment for Growth of Aciduric Bacteria in the Oral Cavity","volume":"35","author":"Onisi","year":"1956","journal-title":"J. Dent. Res."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1016\/j.saa.2016.08.036","article-title":"Vibrational Monitor of Early Demineralization in Tooth Enamel after in Vitro Exposure to Phosphoridic Liquid","volume":"173","author":"Pezzotti","year":"2017","journal-title":"Spectrochim. Acta A Mol. Biomol. Spectrosc."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"508","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0722.1997.tb00238.x","article-title":"Dental Calculus: Recent Insights into Occurrence, Formation, Prevention, Removal and Oral Health Effects of Supragingival and Subgingival Deposits","volume":"105","author":"White","year":"1997","journal-title":"Eur. J. Oral Sci."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ics.2005.06.071","article-title":"Microbial Ecosystem in the Oral Cavity: Metabolic Diversity in an Ecological Niche and Its Relationship with Oral Diseases","volume":"1284","author":"Takahashi","year":"2005","journal-title":"Int. Congr. Ser."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"177966","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jallcom.2024.177966","article-title":"Mechanical and biocompatibility studies on additively manufactured Ti6Al4V porous structures infiltrated with hydroxyapatite for implant applications","volume":"1010","author":"Arivazhagan","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Alloys Compd."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Marin, E., and Lanzutti, A. (2023). Biomedical Applications of Titanium Alloys: A Comprehensive Review. Materials, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma17010114"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"676","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dental.2018.01.016","article-title":"Surface characteristics and biocompatibility of cranioplasty titanium implants following different surface treatments","volume":"34","author":"Hatamleh","year":"2018","journal-title":"Dent. Mater."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"012146","DOI":"10.1088\/1742-6596\/1973\/1\/012146","article-title":"Improved performance of Ti6Al4V alloy in Biomedical applications-Review","volume":"1973","author":"Haydar","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Phys. Conf. Ser."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dikova, T., Hashim, D.P., and Mintcheva, N. (2024). Morphology and Structure of TiO2 Nanotube\/Carbon Nanostructure Coatings on Titanium Surfaces for Potential Biomedical Application. Materials, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma17061290"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Feng, M., Ma, Y., Tian, Y., and Cao, H. (2024). Microstructure and Wear Resistance of Ti6Al4V Titanium Alloy Laser-Clad Ni60\/WC Composite Coating. Materials, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma17010264"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.5604\/01.3001.0014.5895","article-title":"The influence of ion implantation on the properties of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy in biotribological systems","volume":"292","author":"Ozimina","year":"2020","journal-title":"Tribologia"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111029","DOI":"10.1016\/j.triboint.2025.111029","article-title":"Experimental investigation on dry sliding wear characteristics of additive manufactured titanium alloy features with various carbide balls","volume":"213","author":"Basha","year":"2026","journal-title":"Tribol. Int."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109745","DOI":"10.1016\/j.triboint.2024.109745","article-title":"Corrosion and wear characterization of Ti6-Al-4 V alloy: Experimental analysis and performance evaluation","volume":"197","author":"Mukhtar","year":"2024","journal-title":"Tribol. Int."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"234","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jmbbm.2007.12.002","article-title":"Relationship between surface properties (roughness, wettability and morphology) of titanium and dental implant removal torque","volume":"1","author":"Elias","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Mech. Behav. Biomed. Mater."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"4105","article-title":"Enhanced tribological properties and cyto-biocompatibility of dental Ti6Al4V alloy via laser surface texturing","volume":"33","author":"Ji","year":"2024","journal-title":"Technology"},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"(2021). Geometrical Product Specifications (GPS)\u2014Surface Texture: Areal, Part 2: Terms, Definitions and Surface Texture Parameters (Standard No. ISO 25178-2:2021)."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dzierwa, A., Pawlus, P., and Zelasko, W. (2020). The Influence of Disc Surface Topography after Vapor Blasting on Wear of Sliding Pairs under Dry Sliding Conditions. Coatings, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/coatings10020102"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chen, L., Liu, Z., Wang, B., Song, Q., Wan, Y., and Chen, L. (2019). Surface Characterization and Tribological Performance of Anodizing Micro-Textured Aluminum-Silicon Alloys. Materials, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma12111862"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"021702","DOI":"10.1115\/1.4044990","article-title":"Effects of Surface Roughness Parameters on Tribological Performance for Micro-textured Eutectic Aluminum\u2013Silicon Alloy","volume":"142","author":"Chen","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Tribol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1900839","DOI":"10.1002\/admi.201900839","article-title":"Assessment and Interpretation of Surface Wettability Based on Sessile Droplet Contact Angle Measurement: Challenges and Opportunities","volume":"6","author":"Kung","year":"2019","journal-title":"Adv. Mater. Interfaces"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1680\/jsuin.17.00002","article-title":"Contact angles and wettability: Towards common and accurate terminology","volume":"5","author":"Marmur","year":"2017","journal-title":"Surf. Innov."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wysoki\u0144ska-Miszczuk, J., Piotrowska, K., Paulo, M., and Madej, M. (2024). Composite Materials Used for Dental Fillings. Materials, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma17194936"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1107","DOI":"10.1007\/s00396-020-04680-x","article-title":"Influence of surface roughness on contact angle hysteresis and spreading work","volume":"298","author":"Wang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Colloid Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1479","DOI":"10.1089\/ten.tea.2017.0048","article-title":"Roughness and Hydrophilicity as Osteogenic Biomimetic Surface Properties","volume":"23","author":"Boyan","year":"2017","journal-title":"Tissue Eng. Part A"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.1590\/1678-775720140483","article-title":"Early osseointegration driven by the surface chemistry and wettability of dental implants","volume":"23","author":"Sartoretto","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Appl. Oral Sci."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1401","DOI":"10.1163\/156856203322599734","article-title":"Contact angle, protein adsorption and osteoblast precursor cell attachment to chitosan coatings bonded to titanium","volume":"14","author":"Bumgardner","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Biomater. Sci. Polym. Ed."},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"89","article-title":"Examination of the fracture toughness and wear resistance of multilayer coatings","volume":"2","author":"Kot","year":"2014","journal-title":"Tribologia"},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"Piotrowska, K. (2023). Influence of Selected Surface Layers on the Performance Properties of the Titanium Alloy Ti13Nb13Zr in Biotribological Systems. [Ph.D. Thesis, Kielce University of Technology]."}],"container-title":["Materials"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1996-1944\/18\/21\/5010\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T17:42:59Z","timestamp":1762191779000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1996-1944\/18\/21\/5010"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]]},"references-count":35,"journal-issue":{"issue":"21","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11]]}},"alternative-id":["ma18215010"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ma18215010","relation":{},"ISSN":["1996-1944"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1996-1944","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]]}}}