Open AccessStructural and mechanical properties of Ta-based coatings deposited on polymers for biomedical applications
Author(s) -
N Donkov,
А. Zykova,
V. Safonov,
С.В. Дудин,
S. Yakovin,
Petar Petrov,
S Rabadzhiyska
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iop conference series. materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1757-899X
pISSN - 1757-8981
DOI - 10.1088/1757-899x/1056/1/012011
Subject(s) - materials science , polypropylene , biocompatibility , composite material , scanning electron microscope , polymer , elastic modulus , sputter deposition , sputtering , thin film , nanotechnology , metallurgy
The polypropylene meshes currently used for hernioplasty induce severe chronic inflammatory reactions over a long-term period of use. These processes lead to scarring and have a negative effect on the connective tissue and the abdominal walls. It is well-known that the biocompatibility of polymer surfaces might be improved by surface modification. We report on the structure and composition of nanostructured Ta, Ta 2 O 5 and TaON coatings deposited on polypropylene in correlation with their mechanical properties. The elemental distribution and chemical composition of the coatings were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The coatings cross-sectional structure and morphology were observed by electron scanning microscopy. Mechanical tests were performed of the polypropylene and of the samples with Ta-based coatings to evaluate the Vickers hardness and the elastic modulus. The coated samples exhibited higher nano-hardness and elasticity values, significantly exceeding the values of untreated polypropylene samples. The Ta-based coatings deposited by magnetron sputtering improve the mechanical characteristics and biocompatibility of the polypropylene materials in view of, e.g., hernia repair.