The demands placed on surfaces in medical technology are high. Umicore's Platuna PT electrolyte coatings have already proven themselves in technical applications. The precious metal platinum impresses with its chemical inertness, corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, temperature and dimensional stability as well as its excellent electrical conductivity. Platinum is one of the few metals that does not cause toxic reactions, even in long-term implants. With Platuna PT, it is therefore possible to coat components such as electrodes in pacemakers, cochlear implants or neurostimulators with high-purity platinum. Coating thicknesses of up to 50 µm are possible.
Low sulphuric acid content
Platuna PT is a highly developed, pure platinum electrolyte. It is based on a strongly acidic solution with a comparatively low sulphuric acid content. This makes it less aggressive towards the substrate to be coated and enables easier application on sensitive or supposedly non-activatable materials. For example, direct deposition on niobium, which is frequently used in medical technology, is also possible. Deposition takes place at a speed of around 0.13 µm/min at 5 A/dm², regardless of the current density. This property enables a uniform layer distribution even with complex geometries. This is an advantage in the manufacture of miniaturized components.
Resistant layers can be realized
The deposited layers consist of 99.9 percent platinum, are high-gloss, crack-free and have a density of 21.4 g/cm³. The hardness is around 350 HV. Together with the low-reaction behavior of platinum towards other materials, this makes the layers very resistant and enables a long service life (possibly also in the human body). The achievable layer thickness of up to 50 µm allows freedom with regard to partial differences in thickness and the integration of microstructures.
Reliable use in the body
For sensorsfor pH, glucose, oxygen or ECG measurement, a coated, smooth and non-porous surface improves the signal quality. In addition, the high electrical conductivity and chemical inertness ensure reliable measurement results even in long-term applications in the body.