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Abstract

An improved coated orthopaedic implant component is disclosed. The implant may be coated with platinum, iridium or other metals for improved characteristics. Ion beam coating orthopaedic parts by ion implanting the parts with zirconium ions while the parts are immersed in an oxygen-containing background gas is also disclosed. The adhesion of the graded interface zirconium oxide surface layer so formed is further improved by the initial removal of surface contamination using an ion bombardment and the deposition of an intermediate layer of platinum or similar metal or silicon between the orthopaedic metal component and the zirconium oxide. Furnace heating results in atomic interdiffusion to enhance adhesion between the surfaces. The zirconium oxide provides a low friction, low wear articulating surface. The graded interface may be characterized by a blackish color and a transition between pure zirconium oxide and pure intermediate layer that extends over a thickness of hundreds of Angstroms. In an alternative embodiment, the thickness of the zirconium oxide coating may be increased by also adding a simultaneous deposition of zirconium oxide on the parts.

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First Claim