Silver-Doped Layers of Implants Prepared by Pulsed Laser Deposition

Physical and mechanical properties of silver-doped layers of titanium alloy Ti6Al4V and 316L steel prepared by pulsed laser deposition were studied. Metallic silver-doped coatings could be a new way for antibacterial protection in medicine. Thin films of silver and silver-doped materials were synthesized using KrF excimer laser deposition. The material was ablated from two targets, which composed either from titanium alloy with silver segments or from steel with silver segments. The concentration of silver ranged from 1.54 at.% to 4.32 at.% for steel and from 3.04 at.% to 13.05 at.% for titanium alloy. The layers properties such as silver content, structure, and adhesion were measured. Adhesion was stu- died using scratch test.