Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-75dct Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-02T13:17:47.828Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Atomic Force Microscopic Observations of Diamond-like Carbon (DLC)Films Produced by Plasma Immersion and Fibroblasts Cultured on DLC

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 December 2005

E. T. Uzumaki
Affiliation:
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil
C. S. Lambert
Affiliation:
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil
A. R. Santos Jr.
Affiliation:
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil
C. A. C. Zavaglia
Affiliation:
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil
Get access

Extract

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films have been intensively studied with a view to improving orthopaedic implants. Studies have indicated smoothness of the surface, low friction, high wear resistance, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility [1-4]. DLC coatings can be deposited using various techniques, such as plasma assisted chemical vapour deposition (PACVD), magnetron sputtering, laser ablation, and others [5]. However it has proved difficult to obtain films which exhibit good adhesion. The plasma immersion process, unlike the conventional techniques, allows the deposition of DLC on three-dimensional workpieces, even without moving the sample, without an intermediate layer, and with high adhesion [6], an important aspect for orthopaedic articulations. In our previous work, DLC coatings were deposited on silicon and Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy substrates using the plasma immersion process for the characterization of microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour [7-9]. Hardness, measured by a nanoindenter, ranged from 16.4-17.6 GPa, the pull test results indicate the good adhesion of DLC coatings to Ti-13Nb-13Zr, and electrochemical assays (polarization test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) indicate that DLC coatings produced by plasma immersion can improve the corrosion resistance [9].

Type
Other
Copyright
© 2005 Microscopy Society of America

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)