A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Antibacterial Activity of Electrodeposited Copper and Zinc on Metal Injection Molded (MIM) Micropatterned WC-CO Hard Metals
Authors: Dawari Christopher K., Gunell Marianne, Mönkkönen Kari, Suvanto Mika, Saarinen Jarkko J.
Publisher: MDPI
Publication year: 2022
Journal: Coatings
Journal name in source: COATINGS
Journal acronym: COATINGS
Article number: 485
Volume: 12
Issue: 4
Number of pages: 10
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12040485
Web address : https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/12/4/485
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/175276294
Antibacterial activity of electrodeposited copper and zinc both on flat and micropatterned hard metal tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) specimens was studied. Tribological wear was applied on electrodeposited specimens: coatings were completely removed from flat surfaces whereas only top of the micropillars was exposed to wear for the micropatterned specimens protecting the functional metal coating in between the micropillars. The growth of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) Gram-positive bacterial species was studied on the specimens using a touch test mimicking bacterial transfer from the surfaces. Copper coated specimens prevented bacterial growth completely independent of wear or surface structure, i.e., even residual traces of copper were sufficient to prevent bacterial growth. Zinc significantly suppressed the bacterial growth both on flat and micropatterned specimens. However, adhesion of zinc was low resulting in an easy removal from the surface by wear. The micropatterned zinc specimens showed antibacterial activity as electrodeposited zinc remained intact on the sample surface between the micropillars. This was sufficient to suppress the growth of S. aureus. On the contrary, the flat zinc coated surfaces did not show any antibacterial activity after wear. Our results show that micropatterned hard metal specimens can be used to preserve antibacterial activity under tribological wear.
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