Effect of diamond-like carbon (DLC) on the properties of the NiTi alloys

NiTi alloy has found wide application in the biomedical field due to its unique shape memory effect, superelasticity and biocompatibility. However, the materials are vulnerable to surface corrosion and the most serious issue is out-diffusion of toxic Ni ions from the substrate into body tissues and fluids. In this paper, NiTi alloys were coated with diamond-like carbon (DLC) fabricated by plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIIID) to improve their corrosion resistance and blood compatibility without sacrificing their shape memory effect and superelasticity. The structure of the films and the depth profiles between the films and substrate were studied using Raman spectroscopy and XPS, respectively. The phase transformation temperature, superelasticity, anticorrosion behavior and Ni ions release of the coated and uncoated sample were investigated by DSC, tensile tests, potentiodynamic polarization and AAS, respectively. The hemocompatibilty of the coated and uncoated samples was measured using clotting time and platelet adhesion. The results shows that the films is DLC accompanying with the formation of the mixing layer, and the DLC films can markedly improve the corrosion resistance and the hemocompatibility, obviously increase the ratio of albumin-to-fibrinogen and effectively block the Ni ions release of the NiTi alloys without sacrificing its superelasticity and changing its phase transformation temperature. The research results suggest DLC films prepared by PIIID could improve the in vivo performance of NiTi alloys implanted into the human body.