ION-BEAM PROCESSING OF BIO-CERAMICS

Thin films of bio-inert (TiO2+alpha, Al2O3+alpha) and bio-active (comp ounds of calcium and phosphorus oxides, hydroxyapatite) were deposited on the most commonly used implant materials such as titanium and stai nless steel, using a dual-ion-beam deposition system. Rutherford backs cattering spectroscopy was carried out for quantitative measurement of the interfacial atomic mixing and the composition of the elements. Th e experimental results show that by controlling the ion beam energy an d current, thin films with very good mechanical properties are obtaine d as a result of the ion beam mixing within the film and at the interf ace of the film and substrate.