D.G. Liu

Microstructure and tribological properties of Ti-contained amorphous carbon film deposited by DC magnetron sputtering

Pure amorphous carbon (a-C) film and that with a small amount of Ti were deposited on high speed steel (W18Cr4V) substrates by means of dc closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering. The chemical composition and microstructure of the a-C films were performed using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, and transmission electron microscopy. The mechanical and tribological properties were evaluated using a nanoindentor, Rockwell and scratch tests, and a conventional ball-on-disk tribometer, respectively. The pure a-C film showed the high hardness (53 GPa), elastic modulus (289 GPa), but the poor adhesive strength. When adding a small amount of Ti to the a-C film, both the adhesive strength and the tribological properties were improved. The Ti contained a-C film had the low wear rate (1.9×10−17 m3 N−1 m−1) and friction coefficient in humid air.

Structure of sp2 dominant a-C film with superhardness

The mechanical properties of amorphous carbon (a-C) films strongly depend on the film structure. This paper reports on the superhardness of an a-C film resulting from a sp2 dominant microstructure synthesized by magnetron sputtering. The inherent medium compressive stress ensures the film is deposited with a thickness of 1.5 µm. The microstructure of the film with sp2 sites embedded in the amorphous matrix is responsible for the high elastic recovery and superhardness behaviour.

Investigation of silicon carbon nitride nanocomposite films as a wear resistant layer in vitro and in vivo for joint replacement applications

Silicon-contained CNx nanocomposite films were prepared using the ion beam assisted magnetron sputtering under different nitrogen gas pressure. With increase of the nitrogen pressure, silicon and nitrogen content of the CNx films drastically increase, and is saturated as the PN2 reach about 40%. Surface roughness and the contact angle are increase, while the friction coefficient decreased. The CNx film with 5.7at.% Si content possess the lowest friction coefficient of only 0.07, and exhibited the best tribological properties. The impact of CNx films with different silicon content on the growth and the activation of osteoblasts were compared to that of Ti6Al4V. The incorporation of silicon in the CNx film also showed an increase cell adhesion. Bonding structure and surface energy were determined to be the factors contributing to the improved biocompatibility. Macrophages attached to 5.7at.% Si contained CNx films down regulated their production of cytokines and chemokines. Moreover, employed with Si contained CNx coated joint replacements, which were implanted subcutaneously into Sprague-Dawley mice for up to 36days, the tissue reaction and capsule formation was significantly decreased compared to that of Ti6Al4V. A mouse implantation study demonstrated the excellent in vivo biocompatibility and functional reliability of wear resist layer for joint replacements with a Si doped a-CNx coating for 36days.