Surface characteristic and cell response of CVD SiC coating for carbon/carbon composites used for hip arthroplasty

• Published in: Surface and interface analysis 2012-10, Vol.44 (10), p.1319-1323
• Main Authors: Lei-Lei, Zhang, He-Jun, Li, Jin-Hua, Lu, Ke-Zhi, Li, Sheng, Cao, Xue-Ni, Zhao, Zi-Bo, He
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: carbon/carbon composites; cell response; Chemical vapor deposition (including plasma-enhanced cvd, mocvd, etc.); coating; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; hip; Materials science; Methods of deposition of films and coatings; film growth and epitaxy; Physics; Solid-fluid interfaces; Structure and morphology; thickness; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Thin film structure and morphology; Wetting
• ISSN: 0142-2421; 1096-9918
• DOI: 10.1002/sia.5021

SiC coatings were applied on carbon/carbon composites by chemical vapor deposition for potential application in hip arthroplasty. The surface morphology, roughness, and wettability of the coatings were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, laser confocal scanning microscope, and video‐based contact angle measuring device, respectively. The bonding strength between the coatings and carbon/carbon composites was analyzed by scratch testing. The cell responses to coatings were studied by analyzing the cell morphology and cell proliferation. The results showed that SiC coatings showed spherical morphology with a roughness of Ra = 1.0 ± 0.2 µm and a contact angle of 64.7 ± 4.0°. The coatings had lower surface roughness and better surface hydrophilicity compared with those of the uncoated carbon/carbon composites. A strong shear strength averaging 120.0 MPa between the coating and carbon/carbon composites was achieved. The cell culture experiments showed that cell spreading was improved, and cell proliferation was increased with the SiC coatings. It was demonstrated that CVD‐SiC‐coated carbon/carbon composites were good candidates as artificial hip joint materials. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.