Title: Dental drilling in severe and demanding environments

Authors: Mark J. Jackson, Htet Sein, Waqar Ahmed, Howard Taylor

Addresses: Center for Advanced Manufacturing, MET, College of Technology, Purdue University, 401 North Grant Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2021, USA. ' Surface Coatings Research Group, Dalton Research Institute, Department of Chemistry and Materials, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK. ' School of Computing, Technology and Physical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK. ' Surface Coatings Research Group, Dalton Research Institute, Department of Chemistry and Materials, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK

Abstract: The application of diamond coatings on dental cutting tools has been the subject of attention in order to improve cutting performance and life in orthodontic applications. In order to improve the adhesion between diamond and WC-Co substrates, it is necessary to etch cobalt from the surface and prepare it for subsequent diamond growth. Alternatively, a Titanium Nitride (TiN) interlayer can be used prior to diamond deposition. Diamond film quality and purity was characterised using micro Raman spectroscopy. The performance of diamond coated WC-Co tools, uncoated WC-Co tools and diamond embedded (sintered) tools have been compared by drilling a series of holes into various materials such as human tooth, borosilicate glass and acrylic tooth materials. Flank wear has been used to assess the wear rates of the tools when machining biomedical materials. It is shown that using an interlayer prior to diamond deposition provides the best surface preparation for producing dental tools.

Keywords: dental cutting tools; CVD diamond; medical technology; biomedical applications; wear; titanium nitride; TiN; biomaterials; dental drilling; tool wear; interlayers; diamond deposition; surface preparation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNBM.2007.016560

International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials, 2007 Vol.1 No.2, pp.165 - 183

Published online: 10 Jan 2008 *

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