Nanoindentation of hybrid silica coatings on surgical grade stainless steel

JOSEFINA BALLARRE; DAMIÁN A. LÓPEZ; ANA LÍA CAVALIERI

THIN SOLID FILMS

Elsevier

Año: 2008 vol. 516 p. 1082 - 1087

0040-6090

Hybrid silica-based coatings with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), methyltrietoxysilane (MTES), hydroxyethyl-methacrylate (HEMA) and methacrylopropyl-trimethoxysilane (gamma-MPS) as precursors, were employed to improve the performance of stainless steel used as orthopaedic material. Mechanical properties of the films, such as Young´s modulus and hardness, were studied using the load and depth sensing indentation technique known as nano-indentation. The elastic/plastic and creep behaviours were also analyzed. Coatings with a high proportion of organic components (HEMA, gamma-MPS) presented a more plastic response compared to the more vitreous coatings (containing only TEOS and MTES). Theyalso showed the lowest Young´s modulus and hardness. Therefore, the more vitreous coatings presented lower creep deformation that increased with the load applied.