Title: The Electrophoretic Deposition of Bioglass®/Carbon Nanotube composite layers for bioactive coatings

Authors: Johann Cho, Maria Cannio, Aldo R. Boccaccini

Addresses: Department of Materials, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2BP, UK. ' Department of Materials and Environmental Engineering, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41100 Modena, Italy. ' Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BP, UK

Abstract: The feasibility of using Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD) to produce Carbon Nanotube (CNT) films on 45S5 Bioglass® coatings deposited on stainless steel substrates was investigated. The optimal experimental conditions were determined using a trial-and-error approach by varying the relevant EPD parameters. SEM observations confirmed that sequential EPD led to the formation of thick (up to 40µm) and uniform Bioglass® coatings covering the metallic substrate entirely and a porous network of CNTs ordered uniformly on the Bioglass® structure. The novel bioactive and nanostructured composite coatings are intended for applications in the biomedical field (ortophaedic implants and bone tissue engineering scaffolds).

Keywords: EPD; electrophoretic deposition; CNT; carbon nanotubes; bioactive glass; biomaterials; bioglass; nanocomposites; bioactive coatings; nanotechnology; stainless steel substrates; nanostructures; composite coatings; biomedical engineering; ortophaedic implants; bone tissue engineering.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2009.025680

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2009 Vol.35 No.3/4, pp.260 - 270

Published online: 23 May 2009 *

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