The wear properties and adhesion strength of the diamond-like carbon film coated on SUS, Ti and Ni-Ti with plasma pre-treatment.

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were deposited on stainless steel (SUS), titanium (Ti) and nickel titanium (Ni-Ti) substrates using a radiofrequency plasma chemical vapour deposition method. Prior to DLC coating, the substrates were exposed to O2 and N2 plasma to enhance the adhesion strength of the DLC film to the substrate. After the plasma pre-treatment, the chemical composition and the wettability of the substrate surface was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and water contact angle measurement, respectively. A pull-out test and a ball-on-disc test were carried out to evaluate the adhesion strength and the wear properties of the DLC-coated substrates. The XPS results showed that the N2 and O2 plasma pre-treatment produced nitride and oxide on the substrate surfaces, such as TiO2, TiO, Fe2O3, CrN and TiNO. In the pull-out test, the adhesion strengths of the DLC film to the SUS, Ti and Ni-Ti substrates were improved with the plasma pre-treatment. In the ball-on-disc test, the DLC coated SUS, Ti and Ni-Ti substrates without the plasma pre-treatment showed severe film failure following the test. The DLC coated SUS and Ni-Ti substrates with the N2 plasma pre-treatment showed good wear resistance, compared with that with the O2 plasma pre-treatment.

Adsorptive properties of albumin, fibrinogen, and gamma-globulin on fluorinated diamond-like carbon films coated on PTFE.

Fluorinated diamond-like carbon (F-DLC) films were deposited on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) using radio frequency (RF) plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (CVD) by changing the ratio of tetrafluoromethane (CF(4)) and methane (CH(4)). To enhance the adhesion strength of the F-DLC film to the PTFE substrate, the PTFE surface was modified with a N(2) plasma pre-treatment. XPS analysis of the films showed that the C-C bond decreased with increases in the CF(4) ratio, whereas the C-F bond increased with the CF(4) ratio. The F/C ratio of the film also increased with the CF(4) ratio. The pull-out test showed that the adhesion strengths of the films (CF(4)-0-60%) were improved with the plasma pre-treatment. In the film without the plasma pre-treatment, adhesion strength increased with the CF(4) ratio. In contrast, in the case with the plasma pre-treatment, the adhesion strength of the F-DLC film decreased with the increased CF(4) ratio. Regarding the adsorption of albumin, fibrinogen, and gamma-globulin, the amount of adsorbed albumin on the film decreased with an increasing CF(4) ratio, and the amount of adsorbed fibrinogen and gamma-globulin increased with the CF(4) ratio. The CF(4)-0% DLC film showed the most adsorbed albumin and the least adsorbed fibrinogen and gamma-globulin. This indicates that the CF(4)-0% DLC film has higher anti-thrombogenicity than the F-DLC film.

Oxygen plasma pre-treatment improves the wear properties of a diamond-like carbon film coated on UHMWPE and PMMA for biomaterials.

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were deposited on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) with oxygen plasma pre-treatment using a radiofrequency plasma chemical vapour deposition method. A ball-on-disc test was carried out to evaluate the wear properties of the DLC-coated UHMWPE and PMMA. After testing, the surface of the polymers was observed using an atomic force microscope and an optical microscope. The adhesive strength of the DLC films deposited on the polymers was measured using a scratch test. After the ball-on-disc test, many cracks were observed in the films on the surface of both the DLC-coated UHMWPE and PMMA without the oxygen plasma pre-treatment, whereas the DLC-coated UHMWPE and PMMA with oxygen plasma pre-treatment showed no cracks and good wear resistance. In the scratch test, the adhesion strength of the DLC film to the PMMA substrate increased from 42.5 mN to 101.3 mN with oxygen plasma pre-treatment.