Robust low friction performance of graphene sheets embedded carbon films coated orthodontic stainless steel archwires

Abstract Reducing the friction force between commercial archwire and bracket during orthodontic treatment in general dental practice has attracted worldwide interest. An investigation on wear behaviors of uncoated carbon film coated stainless steel archwires running against brackets was systematically conducted. The films were prepared at substrate bias voltages from +5 to +50 V using an electron cyclotron resonance plasma sputtering system. With increasing voltage, local microstructures evolved amorphous graphene nanocrystallites. Both static stable coefficients archwire-bracket contacts sliding dry wet (artificial saliva) conditions decreased with deposition archwires. Low coefficient 0.12 achieved artificial saliva environment for sheets embedded (GSEC) archwire. Deterioration behavior GSEC occurred after immersion solution different periods before test. However, moderate less than 0.30 sustained 30 days periods. low mechanism is clarified be formation salivary adsorbed layer containing tribofilm contact interfaces. robust performances make them good candidates clinical applications.