X. Liu, Y. Xie, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China; C. Ding, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Shanghai, China
Calcium silicate, including wollastonite and dicalcium silicate, were mixed with ZrO2 in various mass ratio. The composite powders were deposited onto Ti-6Al-4V to prepare wollastonite/ZrO2 and dicalcium silcate/ZrO2 composite coatings substrates using plasma spraying technology. The bioactivity of coatings was evaluated using simulated body fluid soaking test. The results obtained showed that the composite coatings possessed obvious lamellar structure with alternating calcium silicate coating and ZrO2 coating. After the composite coatings were soaked in simulated body fluid for a certain period, carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite (CHA) was formed on the surface of the wollastonite/ZrO2 and dicalcium silcate/ZrO2 composite coatings with the weight content of ZrO2 lower than 90%. Among these composite coatings, the composite coatings with the weight content of 70% ZrO2 possessed the best bioactivity. In addition, the ZrO2 in composite coatings may protect the calcium silicate in the coatings from dissolve in simulated body fluid.
Summary: The calcium silicate/ZrO2 composite coatings prepared using plasma spraying technology possessed obvious lamellar structure with alternating calcium silicate coating and ZrO2 coating. Among these composite coatings, the composite coatings with the weight content of 70% ZrO2 possessed the best bioactivity. In addition, the ZrO2 in composite coatings may protect the calcium silicate in the coatings from dissolve in simulated body fluid.
