Influence of diamond-like carbon coatings on the fatigue behavior of spinal implant rod

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the influence of Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coatings on the fatigue behavior of Spinal implant rod. DLC exists in seven different forms of amorphous carbon materials that display some of the unique properties of diamond. They are usually applied as coatings to other materials that could benefit from some of unique diamond properties. In this work, we compared bending fatigue behavior between Stainless Ti6AI4V and DLC Coating Spinal implant rod. The positive effect has been observed by fatigue tests carried out at ASTM Standard D790. Fatigue life and endurance limit of spinal implant rod have been remarkably increased by means of thin DLC coatings. The improvement of fatigue characteristics of spinal implant rod by DLC coatings has been ascribed to the sealing of external defects which retards crack initiation. ©2010 Society for Experimental Mechanics Inc.