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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
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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].
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- © 2005 Microscopy Society of America
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