Tribological performance of DLC coatings on UHMWPE

Abstract

Diamond like carbon (DLC) coatings were deposited by several methods (ion beam assisted evaporation, magnetron sputtering, filter cathodic arc, and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition) onto medical grade ultra-high-molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) discs. The chemical characteristics and mechanical properties of the deposited DLC coatings were studied by Raman spectroscopy and nanoindentation, respectively. In addition, a set of tribological tests was conducted at human body temperature and under bovine serum lubrication against alumina balls. After testing, wear tracks were both visually inspected and documented using confocal microscopy. Visual inspection of the wear tracks confirmed that the DLC coatings were completely removed in all cases, the only exception being the DLC coating prepared by magnetron sputtering with thickness about 0.5 microns. Although this type of DLC coating exhibited the highest friction coefficient, and therefore it suggested a somewhat lower resistance to abrasive/adhesive wear conditions, no evidence of cracking or delamination was observed after the high contact pressure wear testing. This fact points out a good substrate-coating adhesion, and confirms magnetron sputtered DLC as a potential coating for orthopaedic applications.