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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 29: Posters: Biopolymers \& Biomaterials
BP 29.6: Poster
Thursday, March 17, 2011, 17:15–20:00, P3
Effect of bias voltage on wear particle size distribution of DLC coatings in artificial hip joints — •Ying Ren1, Ingo Erdmann1, Friederike Deuerler1, Berrin Küzün2, and Volker Buck2 — 1Faculty D-Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wuppertal, 42119, Wuppertal, Germany — 2Thin Film Technology Group, Faculty of Physics, University Duisburg-Essen and CeNIDE, 47057, Duisburg, Germany
Due to the biocompatibility, Diamond-like carbon (DLC) is an inert and impervious material with properties suitable for use in tribological implants such as hip joint replacements. Currently the lifetime of such joints is just about 15 years. Therefore some (10%) of patients require second replacements. It is currently an urgent need to extend the life expectancy especially for younger patients under 50 years old. Wear particles causing bone resorption which may lead to aseptic implant loosening have been identified as the main factor limiting the lifetime of the implants. To date, the study of the amount of wear particles has attracted more and more researchers. However, reports about wear particle size distribution are rare to see. In this study, we deposited DLC coatings on P2000 steel substrates by vacuum arc adjustable from anodic to cathodic operation mode, and investigated the relation between the deposition parameters and wear particle size distribution. In order to improve the adhesion of DLC coatings on P2000 steel substrates, titanium metallic interface layers are deposited first by cathodic vacuum arc evaporation. It is shown that the wear particle size distributions are influenced by the deposition parameters.