In vitro corrosion behavior of PTFE coating on AZ31 by RF magnetron sputtering for biomedical application.

This article focuses on the development and evaluation of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating applied via radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering to AZ31 magnesium alloy for biomedical implant applications. The approximately 100 nm thick PTFE coating demonstrated a dense, flat, and hydrophobic surface that significantly enhanced the corrosion resistance of AZ31 alloy in simulated body fluid, reducing corrosion current density from 1.92 × 10⁻⁴ A/cm² to 1.07 × 10⁻⁸ A/cm² and maintaining surface integrity after seven days of immersion. Additionally, in vitro cytocompatibility tests using human umbilical vein endothelial cells showed higher cell viability and proliferation on PTFE-coated samples compared to bare AZ31, indicating good biocompatibility. These findings suggest that PTFE coatings prepared by RF magnetron sputtering may offer a promising protective and biocompatible surface modification for magnesium alloy implants.