Abstract: A femoral component as herein before described for an artificial hip joint made out of an alloy containing titanium, wherein at least a major load bearing portion of which has been subjected to bombardment by a beam of nitrogen or other light ions having energies in the range of 10 Kev to 200 Kev until a surface fluence of between 1 and 8×1017 ions/cm2 has been implanted. An apparatus for processing such components is described also.

Abstract: A rapid deployment countermeasure system comprises a base attached to a plurality of tubes which are in fluid communication with at least one deployment module. A guidance bar is attached to the top ends of the tubes, and a guidance shroud is proximate to the outer surfaces of the tubes. The system includes one or more anti-ballistic blankets fixedly attached to the guidance bar, and is erected to form an anti-ballistic barrier upon activation of the deployment modules.

Abstract: A method of forming titanium boronitride coatings using ion beam assisted deposition. The method involves exposing the substrate to a vacuum, depositing titanium onto the substrate, substantially simultaneously exposing the substrate to a source comprising boron and nitrogen, and substantially simultaneously bombarding the substrate with an energetic beam of ions under conditions effective to form a quantity of titanium-boron bonds and a quantity of titanium-nitrogen bonds effective to produce a titanium boronitride coating having a hardness of at least about 5000 kg/mm2.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for modifying surfaces made from metal alloy and/or UHMWPE, preferably surfaces which are frictionally engaged, e.g., in an orthopaedic implant. The methods of the present invention reduce the coefficient of friction of the metal alloy component, reduce the shearing of fibrils from the UHMWPE component, and reduce sub-surface fatigue in the UHMWPE component. The method involves solvent immersion of the UHMWPE component to remove short chains of polyethylene at or near the surface of the component, and to swell and toughen the subsurface of the component. The method also involves firmly coating the surface of the metal alloy component with an adherent layer of diamond-like carbon (“DLC”) by creating a metal-silicide interface at the surface of the metal alloy to permit firmer adhesion of DLC.

Abstract: Fuel cell electrodes comprising a minimal load of catalyst having maximum catalytic activity and a method of forming such fuel cell electrodes. The method comprises vaporizing a catalyst, preferably platinum, in a vacuum to form a catalyst vapor. A catalytically effective amount of the catalyst vapor is deposited onto a carbon catalyst support on the fuel cell electrode. The electrode preferably is carbon cloth. The method reduces the amount of catalyst needed for a high performance fuel cell electrode to about 0.3 mg/cm.sup.2 or less.

Abstract: Amorphous carbon comprising a dispersion comprising a catalytically effective load of catalyst, preferably an electrocatalytically effective load of a noble metal electrocatalyst, and membrane electrode assemblies and fuel cell electrodes incorporating same.

Abstract: The present invention provides metal working tools with metal working surfaces bearing a coating of diamond-like carbon that is strongly adhered to the surface via the following gradient: metal alloy or cobalt-cemented tungsten carbide base; cobalt or metal-silicide and/or cobalt or metal-germanide; silicon and/or germanium; silicon carbide and/or germanium carbide; and, diamond-like carbon.

Abstract: A method for preventing radioactive contamination of porous surfaces comprising providing an apparatus for handling radioactive material comprising a porous surface; exposing the porous surface to a vacuum; depositing a flowable precursor material onto the porous surface, wherein the porous surface comprises pores and the vacuum is effective to substantially fill the pores with the flowable precursor material; subjecting the flowable precursor material to energy sufficient to convert the flowable precursor material to an effective sealant film comprising amorphous carbon. In a preferred embodiment, the porous surface is an anodized aluminum surface.

Abstract: A component comprising an anodized aluminum surface comprising a diamond-like carbon sealant. In a preferred embodiment, the diamond-like carbon sealant substantially fills pores in the anodized aluminum surface, and the pores are substantially free of gas. The anodized aluminum surface and sealant form an interface which preferably is substantially free of imperfections attributable to water molecules remaining adsorbed to the surface during application of said sealant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a medical implant, the coating comprising an antimicrobially effective amount of antimicrobial metal atoms incorporated into a coating of amorphous carbonaceous material.

Abstract: The surfaces of silicon protrusions from hypereutectic alloy bearing surfaces are converted to a highly stable metal silicides which are more effectively lubricated by conventional polar lubricant additives.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a medical implant, the coating comprising an antimicrobially effective amount of antimicrobial metal atoms incorporated into a coating of amorphous carbonaceous material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diamond like carbon coating comprising a surface comprising an interface and a lubricant film, said interface comprising atomic bonds between atoms in said diamond-like carbon coating and atoms in said lubricant precursor film. The invention also provides a method for producing said coating, interface, and film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for easily and effectively removing adsorbed water molecules from an anodized surface using low intensity ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The present invention also provides a method for sealing an anodized aluminum surface which does not result in hazardous byproducts. The method involves, in vacuum: (1) vaporizing a selected precursor fluid; (2) condensing a flux of said precursor vapor onto the anodized aluminum surface; (3) and, bombarding said condensed precursor vapor with an energetic beam of ions to convert the porous anodized surface into an inert, solid, impermeable, and mechanically strong surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low-temperature method for producing electrocatalytic coatings for fuel cell electrodes. The electrocatalytic coating comprises a thin-film of diamond-like carbon doped with finely-dispersed catalytic agent, preferably platinum, platinum-ruthenium, or other catalytically active materials. The method may be scaled-up as a highly economical reel-to-reel process comparable to the manufacture of coated polymers for food packaging applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for strongly adhering a diamond-like carbon coating to a metal alloy substrate using ion beam assisted deposition of silicon and/or germanium followed by ion beam assisted deposition of diamond-like carbon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for suppressing transient enhanced diffusion of ion implanted dopants in a semiconductor substrate comprising bombarding the substrate in a vacuum with a beam of bubble-forming ions at a first temperature, a first energy, and a first ion dose sufficient to form a dispersion of bubbles at a depth equivalent to a peak of damage distribution in the substrate from implantation of dopant ions into the substrate in a vacuum at a second temperature, a second energy, and a second ion dose, said dispersion being sufficient to reduce said damage distribution.

Abstract: The present invention uses ion beam assisted deposition to adhere a diamond-like carbon coating to a cobalt-cemented tungsten carbide substrate, resulting in the following gradient at the surface of the substrate: substrate/(metal-silicide or metal-germanide)/(silicon or germanium)/(silicon carbide or germanium carbide)/DLC.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for coating a metal alloy component of a medical implant, particularly a component of a heart valve made of a titanium base alloy, with a strongly adhered coating of diamond-like carbon. The method uses ion beam assisted deposition to form a gradient at the surface of the titanium alloy comprising metal alloy/metal-silicide/(silicon or germanium)/silicon- or germanium-carbide/DLC.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low-temperature method for producing electrocatalytic coatings for fuel cell electrodes. The electrocatalytic coating comprises a thin-film of diamond-like carbon doped with finely-dispersed catalytic agent, preferably platinum, platinum-ruthenium, or other catalytically active materials. The method may be scaled-up as a highly economical reel-to-reel process comparable to the manufacture of coated polymers for food packaging applications.