Influence of uniaxial deformation on structure of carbon-coated polyurethane surface

Plasma treatment of polymers is the promising technique for improving the quality of biomedical devices, in particular deformable implants. The influence of mechanical deformation on such coating has not been sufficiently studied. The effect of the uniaxial cyclic deformation on the surface structure of carbon nanolayer deposited (by the magnetron sputtering) on soft elastic polyurethane is investigated. The obtained coating is wrinkled. The mechanical load changes the structure of the surface (wavelength, amplitude and fractal dimension of the wrinkles, surface roughness); the cracks appear on the deposited layer. As the strain increases, the number of cracks rises and the strain-induced folds appear on the coating.