Applications
The latest developments in dry film lubrication surface engineering allow clinicians and biomedical engineers to accurately specify surfaces that reduce wear to very low levels. This improves performance by providing very high levels of lubricity,  with  free movement and minimal energy inputs for all types of machines and medical devices including prostheses, artificial limbs, drug delivery pumps and mobility devices.

Wear resistance
SLF74/16 provides the lowest friction coefficient  film coating commercially available today    at 0.03. This is lower than Diamond Like Carbon ( DLC) at  0.15,  and  even lower than graphite  at 0.1.

Tissue compatibility & fluid delivery
SLF is nonmagnetic, non-toxic, chemically inert and complies with ISO 10993 and USP Class 6. SLF is not affected by solvents,  saline  solutions, body fluids or medical grade lubricants.

Energy efficiency
The extremely low coefficient of friction, in temperature ranges of  -180C to 1300C,  provides smooth, energy efficient operation, especially on cutting edges or sliding surfaces in complex mechanisms.

Galling and adhesion prevention
Galling and adhesion on all types of steel, copper/brass and titanium can be virtually eliminated, while preserving load bearing properties up to 2450MpA

Matching advanced materials to clinical needs
Tecvac offers a full set of surface engineering solutions to meet the needs of medical device manufacturing, clinicians and surgeons.


Dry film lubrication - solid lubrication film  SLF74/16

Plasma modification & thermal processing
Dry film lubrication
Medical applications
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 Tecvac low friction,  wear resistant and biocompatible surfaces   Call Tecvac on +44 (0) 1954 233700
Biomedical Surfaces  2012

£500,000 EPSRC project at the University of Sheffield
Tecvac Ltd has designed and built a unique, world class surface engineering research machine for The University of Sheffield as part of a £500,000 EPSRC project.

  Specifically designed for the Research Centre in Surface Engineering, led by Professor Allan Matthews (in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering) the new Tecvac IP70 machine uniquely combines two different Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) coating technologies in a single production scale vacuum chamber.

 Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), it will be used both for fundamental research and for near-market applications in surface engineering, covering a range of ceramics, nano composite and glassy-metal plasma-based coatings - combined with a duplex substrate diffusion pre-treatment capability.
This will open up routes to new thin film and nano-scale processes which can support innovative medical and life science applications including tissue engineering.
More>>>

Reduced wear & infection
A new coating developed by Tecvac including silver and chromium nitride has the potential to reduce both wear and joint infection in total hip replacement therapy.
See poster from Queen Mary College, University of London
Project BERTI; (Biomedical implant with Exceptional Resistance to Tribo-bio-corrosion and with Inherent antimicrobial properties) is expected to lead to new designs of  knee and hip implants and  substantially reduce the number of costly revision surgeries for hip and knee replacement patients. Partners in the project include Corin Plc, Tecvac Ltd, Imperial College, University of London, Charing Cross Hospitals, Queen Mary College, University of London and the University of Sheffield.
More>>>
SMART HIP project Tecvac is a partner in the SMART-HIP project which has been funded by the TSB {UK Technology Strategy Board}. "The information we gained earlier  in the DUBIOP   project enabled us to build on our experience and to participate. "  Dr. Jonathan Housden, Head of Research and Development, Tecvac Ltd

Page update January 2012