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H S Shim

Publications and source records attributed to H S Shim.

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Developments in carbon prosthetics.

The majority of carbon-coated prosthetic devices in use today are coated with a unique form of carbon, low-temperature isotropic (LTI) carbon. The wide acceptance of this special form of carbon is a direct result of LTI carbon's demonstrated biocompatibility, its mechanical properties, and its inertness. The LTI carbon deposition process, however, places severe constraints on the size and type of substrate that can be coated. The substrates must be small so that they may be supported in a fluidized bed and further must be able to withstand temperatures in excess of 1200 degrees C. Recent technological advancements have removed the requirement that an object to be coated must be suspended in a fluidized bed and have also made possible the deposition of isotropic carbon at near room temperature. These developments expand the application of carbon-surfaced components into areas of prosthetics not previously possible. This paper describes some of the new applications and results.

Animals

The strength of LTI carbon dental implants.

In vitro mechanical tests have been performed on a variety of LTI pyrolytic carbon blade-type dental implants, and the test results have been analyzed using an analytical model. Tensile stresses at fracture were calculated to be about 5 X 10(4) psi and 8 X 10(3) psi in the LTI carbon coating and the graphite substrate, respectively. These values are close to their respective fracture strengths. The fracture loads predicted by the model are in good agreement with data obtained from the mechanical tests and are higher than forces expected in mastication.

Carbon

The microstructure of isotropic vapor-deposited carbon films.

The structure of thin, vapor-deposited carbon films was characterized by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Selected area electron diffraction showed very weak and broad peaks, indicating that these carbons contain extremely small crystallites whose dimension in the crystallographic c-direction is about 8 to 10 a. The observed diffraction bands are (h, k, 1 = 0) type reflections, which suggests that individual crystallites consist of graphitic layer planes stacked in parallel groups but with no order between atoms in adjacent planes (turbostratic). The carbon films exhibit no preferred orientation, indicating that the small crystallites are randomly oriented in the film and that the films are therefore isotropic. The measured density (1.8 g/cm3) and the structure of the vapor-deposited carbons are accordingly similar to those of low-temperature isotropic (LTI) pyrolytic carbons.

Carbon

The wear of titanium, titanium alloy, and UHMW polyethylene caused by LTI carbon and Stellite 21.

The comparative wear resistance of a commercially pure titanium (A-70), a titanium alloy (Beta III), and a UHMW polyethylene (Lennite) has been evaluated by employing a test procedure described previously. Either an LTI carbon or a Stellite 21 was the disk material. All material combinations exhibited a low volume wear rate ranging from about 1.2 x 10(-6) to 1.6 x 10(-6) mm3/km. The wear behavior of pure titanium seems to be related not only to its mechanical properties but also to its chemical reactivity with the test environment. A comparison of the current results with earlier data for LTI carbons suggests that LTI carbons may be used as a component material for many artificial joints.

Alloys

The mechanical behavior of LTI carbon dental implants.

LTI pyrolytic carbon blade-type dental implants consisting of a graphite substrate and an LTI pyrolytic carbon coating have a strength that increases with the coating thickness. For implants having a coating thickness of about 0.03 in., average fracture loads of about 1500 lb and 230 lb were obtained in axial compressive loading and eccentric loading (e.g., axial compressive loading plus a bending moment), respectively. Depending on the type of loading, the maximum stresses in the graphite substrate were calculated to be very close to its compressive or tensile fracture strength. Also studied was the effect of a variety of defects on the overall strength of the implants.

Animals

The adhesion of thin carbon films to metallic substrates.

As part of the development of carbon-coated prosthetic devices, the adhesion of thin carbon films to metallic substrates has been studied. The bond strength of carbon films about 5000 A thick on Ti-6A1-4V and stainless steel was measured in a pull test and found to be greater than 4700 psi. Auger electron spectroscopy showed a reactive film/substrate interface. The ultimate bond strength was found to be dependent on the substrate and the deposition parameters.

Adhesiveness