Advanced synthesis and characterization of DLC-based nanocomposite coatings for biomedical applications

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This project aims to develop large scale production techniques to obtain adherent diamond like carbon (DLC) based nanocomposite coatings on biomedical implants by developing an integrated physical and chemical vapor deposition system with sputtering, plasma, and end hall ion sources for improved lifetime and biomedical performance. The key issues to be addressed include introduction of different carbon sources to increase the deposition rates, nanostructures, and new interfacial designs to improve the adhesion of DLC based coatings to the implant substrates. The techniques to be explored include liquid hydrocarbon sources, the newly developed nanointerlayers and nanocoatings, and synchrotron based spectroscopy for characterization. The team members have complementary expertise and extensive research experience in the synthesis and characterization of diamond and DLC based coatings on various substrates including titanium alloys, cobalt alloys, and stainless steels using various advanced techniques including plasma enhanced vapor deposition, ion beam deposition, biomedical evaluation, and synchrotron based X-ray spectroscopy. On the other hand, the supporting organizations pioneer in vapor deposition equipment for coating deposition. Specifically, the companies have successfully developed various novel deposition systems and novel processing procedures. It is evident that all the partners have complementary expertise and equipment, and thus the development of a partnership among the researchers and the companies would produce strong synergy for addressing the critical issues in using DLC based nanocomposite coatings for biomedical applications. The completion of the project will produce significant societal and economic benefit to Canadians as both the deposition systems and synthesis techniques can be directly delivered to the market to make full use of the outstanding properties of DLC for various biomedical and industrial applications. In particular, the new processes will enable large area production of DLC based coatings on biomedical metals, which will commercialize high performance biomedical implants to improve quality of life.