Effect of titanium incorporation on the structural, mechanical and biocompatible properties of DLC thin films prepared by reactive-biased target ion beam deposition method

Amorphous diamond like carbon (DLC) and titanium incorporated diamond like carbon (Ti-DLC) thin films were deposited by using reactive-biased target ion beam deposition method. The effects of Ti incorporation and target bias voltage on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the as-deposited...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied surface science 2010-10, Vol.257 (1), p.143-150
Main Authors: Bharathy, P. Vijai, Nataraj, D., Chu, Paul K., Wang, Huaiyu, Yang, Q., Kiran, M.S.R.N., Silvestre-Albero, J., Mangalaraj, D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amorphous diamond like carbon thin film
Biocompatibility
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
Deposition
Diamond like carbon
Diamond-like carbon films
Exact sciences and technology
Ion and electron beam-assisted deposition
ion plating
Materials science
Mechanical and acoustical properties
Mechanical properties
Methods of deposition of films and coatings
film growth and epitaxy
Nanocrystals
Nanostructure
Physical properties of thin films, nonelectronic
Physics
Reactive-biased target ion beam deposition
Structure and morphology
thickness
Surfaces and interfaces
thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties)
Surgical implants
Thin film structure and morphology
Titanium
Titanium carbide
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Summary:Amorphous diamond like carbon (DLC) and titanium incorporated diamond like carbon (Ti-DLC) thin films were deposited by using reactive-biased target ion beam deposition method. The effects of Ti incorporation and target bias voltage on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the as-deposited films were investigated by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and nano-indentation. It was found that the Ti content in Ti-DLC films gets increased with increasing target bias voltage. At about 4.2 at.% of Ti, uniform sized well dispersed nanocrystals were seen in the DLC matrix. Using FFT analysis, a facility available in the TEM, it was found that the nanocrystals are in cubic TiC phase. Though at the core, the incorporated Ti atoms react with carbon to form cubic TiC; most of the surface exposed Ti atoms were found to react with the atmospheric oxygen to form weakly bonded Ti–O. The presence of TiC nanocrystals greatly modified the sp 3/sp 2 hybridized bonding ratio and is reflected in mechanical hardness of Ti-DLC films. These films were then tested for their biocompatibility by an in vitro cell culturing test. Morphological observation and the cell proliferation test have demonstrated that the human osteoblast cells well attach and proliferate on the surface of Ti incorporated DLC films, suggesting possible applications in bone related implant coatings.
ISSN:0169-4332
1873-5584
DOI:10.1016/j.apsusc.2010.06.052