Super-elastic thin films for biomedical applications
Résumé
Super-elastic Titanium based thin films Ti-23Nb-0.7Ta-2Zr-(O) (TNTZ-O) (at.%) were deposited by direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) in Ar + O2 atmosphere. The effects of oxygen doping (TNTZ-O) on the microstructure, mechanical properties and biocompatibility of the as-deposited coatings were investigated. Nano-indentation measurements show that 1 sccm of reactive gas in the mixture is necessary to reach acceptable values of hardness and Young’s modulus. Mechanical properties are considered in relation to the films compactness, the compressive stress and the changes in the grain size. Data on Bacterial inactivation and biocompatibility are reported in this study. The biocompatibility tests showed that O-containing samples led to higher cells proliferation. The sputtered films showed bactericidal activity as followed by surface potential and pH changes within the disinfection process.