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Nanocomposite Thin Films with Hybrid Inorganic/Organic Matrix for the Modification of Silicon‐Based Implants
Author(s) -
Nunes Jorge,
Santos Rita J.,
Loureiro Vera,
Piedade Ana P.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
plasma processes and polymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1612-8869
pISSN - 1612-8850
DOI - 10.1002/ppap.201100089
Subject(s) - nanocomposite , materials science , wetting , contact angle , microstructure , silicon , chemical engineering , thin film , biomaterial , ceramic , composite material , nanotechnology , metallurgy , engineering
Thin nanocomposite hybrid films were deposited by r.f. magnetron sputtering. These were composed of of SiO2, poly(propylene) (PP) and SiO2/PP, with Ag contents varying from 0 to 30 at.‐%. The influence of metal concentration on the properties of the deposited surfaces was evaluated. The chemical composition, chemical structure, morphology, dynamic wettability behavior, and microstructure were studied. The overall properties of the inorganic/organic system are more influenced by those of the ceramic fraction than by the polymeric one. The hysteresis of the contact angle shows that all the surfaces interact with water and that the presence of the metallic element increases reactivity in an aqueous medium. These results show promising applications in the biomedical field particularly in those that use silicon as a biomaterial for implants.