Improved electrochemical performance of nitrocarburised stainless steel by hydrogenated amorphous carbon thin films for bone tissue engineering

In this study, hydrogenated amorphous carbon thin films, structurally similar to diamond-like carbon (DLC), were deposited on the surface of untreated and plasma nitrocarburised (Nitrocarburizing-treated) stainless steel medical implants using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition method. The deposited DLC thin films on the nitrocarburising-treated implants (CN+DLC) exhibited an appropriate adhesion to the substrates. The results clearly indicated that the applied DLC thin films showed excellent pitting and corrosion resistance with no considerable damage on the surface in comparison with the other samples. The CN+DLC thin films could be considered as an efficient approach for improving the biocompatibility and chemical inertness of metallic implants.