Deposition of boron doped DLC films on TiNb and characterization of their mechanical properties and blood compatibility.
Diamond-like carbon (DLC) material is used in blood contacting devices as the surface coating material because of the antithrombogenicity behavior which helps to inhibit platelet adhesion and activation. In this study, DLC films were doped with boron during pulsed plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to improve the blood compatibility. The ratio of boron to carbon (B/C) was varied from 0 to 0.4 in the film by adjusting the flow rate of trimethylboron and acetylene. Tribological tests indicated that boron doping with a low B/C ratio of 0.03 is beneficial for reducing friction (μ = 0.1), lowering hardness and slightly increasing wear rate compared to undoped DLC films. The B/C ratio in the film of 0.03 and 0.4 exhibited highly hydrophilic surface owing to their high wettability and high surface energy. Anin vitroplatelet adhesion experiment was conducted to compare the blood compatibility of TiNb substrates before and after coating with undoped and boron doped DLC. Films with highly hydrophilic surface enhanced the blood compatibility of TiNb, and the best results were obtained for DLC with the B/C ratio of 0.03. Boron doped DLC films are promising surface coatings for blood contacting devices.
Department of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Shahira
S
Liza
Department of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology , Tokyo , Japan.
Junko
J
Hieda
Department of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology , Tokyo , Japan.
Hiroki
H
Akasaka
Department of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology , Tokyo , Japan.
Naoto
N
Ohtake
Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University , Tokyo , Japan.
Yusuke
Y
Tsutsumi
Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University , Tokyo , Japan.
Akiko
A
Nagai
Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University , Tokyo , Japan.
Takao
T
Hanawa
10 Engineering and structural materials; 104 Carbon and related materials; 306 Thin film / Coatings; Boron doped DLC film; platelet adhesion and activation; surface energy; thin film; tribology; wettability