Abstract
To reach antibacterial decorative faucets with gold color as a controlling parameter, TiCuN thin films containing different amounts of copper (Cu), namely 0.24%, 0.51%, and 1.78%, were prepared on the brass alloy. These different Cu contents were reached by applying various amount of titanium (Ti) and deposition time. The combination of magnetron sputtering and cathode arc deposition physical vapor deposition methods (PVD) in a single chamber was used to fabricate these layers. XRD, XPS, EDS, and FE-SEM analyses were applied to explore physical and chemical properties, and antibacterial tests were used to study the efficiency of modification at different times (1 h, 6 h, and 24 h). The results indicate that all samples benefit from nanoparticle size (20–50 nm), and Cu contact boosts the antibacterial rate. The model with copper content of 1.78% has the best and most stable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (99.9% after 6 h).
Similar content being viewed by others
Change history
03 April 2023
A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-023-02722-6
References
Arulksumar G, Krishnan K H, Kedharnath A (2016). Copper thin film sputtered on AlSL 316L for antimicrobial property. Int J Sci Eng Appl. 79–82
Aruoma OI, Halliwell B, Gajewski E, Dizdaroglu M (1991) Copper-ion-dependent damage to the bases in DNA in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Biochem J 273(3):601–604
Banci L, Bertini I, Cantini F, Ciofi-Baffoni S (2010) Cellular copper distribution: a mechanistic systems biology approach. Cell Mol Life Sci 67(15):2563–2589
Bharadishettar N, Bhat UK, Panemangalore DB (2021) Coating technologies for copper based antimicrobial active surfaces: a perspective review. Metals 11(5):711. https://doi.org/10.3390/met11050711
Braic M, Braic V, Balaceanu M, Pavelescu G, Vladescu A (2003) Microchemical and microstructural properties of metallic nitride and carbide hard coatings deposited by arc-evaporation. Romanian Rep Phys 55(3):451–462
Chen H, Lee J-H, Kim Y-H, Shin D-W, Park S-C, Meng X, Yoo J-B (2010) Metallic copper nanostructures synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 10(1):629–636. https://doi.org/10.1166/jnn.2010.1739
Chen N-H, Chung C-J, Chiang C-C, Chen K-C, He J-L (2014) Antimicrobial copper-containing titanium nitride coatings Co-deposited by arc ion plating/magnetron sputtering for protective and decorative purposes. Surf Coat Technol 253:83–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2014.05.017
Dan Z, Ni H, Xu B, Xiong J, Xiong P (2005) Microstructure and antibacterial properties of AISI 420 stainless steel implanted by copper ions. Thin Solid Films 492(1–2):93–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2005.06.100
Echavarría AM, Calderón JA, Bejarano G (2020) Microstructural and electrochemical properties of TiAlN (Ag, Cu) nanocomposite coatings for medical applications deposited by dc magnetron sputtering. J Alloy Compd 828:154396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2020.154396
Hsu C, Lin C, Huang K, Ou K (2013) Improvement on hardness and corrosion resistance of ferritic stainless steel via PVD-(Ti, Cr) N coatings. Surf Coat Technol 231:380–384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2012.05.095
Jiang N, Zhang H, Bao S, Shen Y, Zhou Z (2004) XPS study for reactively sputtered titanium nitride thin films deposited under different substrate bias. Physica B 352(1–4):118–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physb.2004.07.001
Jin Z, Liu C, Qi K, Cui X (2017) Photo-reduced Cu/CuO nanoclusters on TiO 2 nanotube arrays as highly efficient and reusable catalyst. Sci Rep 7(1):1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep39695
Joo Y-K, Zhang S-H, Yoon J-H, Cho T-Y (2009) Optimization of the adhesion strength of arc ion plating TiAlN films by the Taguchi method. Materials 2(2):699–709. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma2020699
Kuo Y-C, Lee J-W, Wang C-J, Chang Y-J (2007) The effect of Cu content on the microstructures, mechanical and antibacterial properties of Cr–Cu–N nanocomposite coatings deposited by pulsed DC reactive magnetron sputtering. Surf Coat Technol 202(4–7):854–860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2007.05.062
Li Y, Qu L, Wang F (2003) The electrochemical corrosion behavior of TiN and (Ti, Al) N coatings in acid and salt solution. Corros Sci 45(7):1367–1381. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-938X(02)00223-8
Li M, Luo S, Zeng C, Shen J, Lin H (2004) Corrosion behavior of TiN coated type 316 stainless steel in simulated PEMFC environments. Corros Sci 46(6):1369–1380. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-938X(03)00187-2
Liu H, Zhao Y, Sui C, Siddiqui MA, Li S, Li T, Zhang S, Wang H, Jin T, Ren L (2022) Effect of N 2 partial pressure on comprehensive properties of antibacterial TiN/Cu nanocomposite coating. Int J Miner Metall Mater 30:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-021-2387-y
Luo X, Ma D, Jing P, Gong Y, Zhang Y, Jing F, Leng Y (2021) In vitro analysis of cell compatibility of TiCuN films with different Cu contents. Surf Coat Technol 408:126790. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2020.126790
Matsumoto N, Sato K, Yoshida K, Hashimoto K, Toda Y (2009) Preparation and characterization of β-tricalcium phosphate co-doped with monovalent and divalent antibacterial metal ions. Acta Biomater 5(8):3157–3164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2009.04.010
Naghibi S, Raeissi K, Fathi M (2014) Corrosion and tribocorrosion behavior of Ti/TiN PVD coating on 316L stainless steel substrate in Ringer’s solution. Mater Chem Phys 148(3):614–623. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2014.08.025
Neelakrishnan S, Bharathimohan M (2021) Improvement of wear resistance by vacuum arc evaporation PVD thin film TiN coating. Int J Mech Eng 6(3):351–356
Olbrich W, Fessmann J, Kampschulte G, Ebberink J (1991) Improved control of TiN coating properties using cathodic arc evaporation with a pulsed bias. Surf Coat Technol 49(1–3):258–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/0257-8972(91)90065-5
Osés J, Fuentes GG, Palacio JF, Esparza J, García JA, Rodríguez R (2018) Antibacterial functionalization of PVD coatings on ceramics. Coatings 8(5):197. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings8050197
Peng C, Zhao Y, Jin S, Wang J, Liu R, Liu H, Shi W, Kolawole SK, Ren L, Yu B (2018) Antibacterial TiCu/TiCuN multilayer films with good corrosion resistance deposited by axial magnetic field-enhanced arc ion plating. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 11(1):125–136. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.8b14038
Purniawan A, Hermastuti R, Purwaningsih H, Atmono T (2018) Effect of deposition time of sputtering Ag-Cu thin film on mechanical and antimicrobial properties. AIP Conference Proceedings, AIP Publishing LLC. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5030230
Sharifahmadian O, Salimijazi H, Fathi M, Mostaghimi J, Pershin L (2013) Relationship between surface properties and antibacterial behavior of wire arc spray copper coatings. Surf Coat Technol 233:74–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2013.01.060
Thurman RB, Gerba CP, Bitton G (1989) The molecular mechanisms of copper and silver ion disinfection of bacteria and viruses. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 18(4):295–315. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643388909388351
Wu Q, Li J, Zhang W, Qian H, She W, Pan H, Wen J, Zhang X, Liu X, Jiang X (2014) Antibacterial property, angiogenic and osteogenic activity of Cu-incorporated TiO 2 coating. J Mater Chem B 2(39):6738–6748
Zhang E, Zheng L, Liu J, Bai B, Liu C (2015) Influence of Cu content on the cell biocompatibility of Ti–Cu sintered alloys. Mater Sci Eng C 46:148–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2014.10.021
Acknowledgements
We appreciate the financial support from the University of Isfahan and the KWC IRAN factory.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
The original Online version of this article was revised: The Fig. 5 and explanations in the text was missed and published.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Dalirian, F., Afzali, N. & Keshavarzi, R. TiCuN coating on brass faucets: from beautifully colored appearance to antibacterial properties. Chem. Pap. 77, 3471–3479 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-022-02584-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-022-02584-4