Fabrication and characterization of fluorhydroxyapatite/calcium silicate composite coatings deposited by suspension plasma spraying

Fabrication and characterization of fluorhydroxyapatite/calcium silicate composite coatings deposited by suspension plasma spraying Yu Bai*, Sheng-jian Zhou, Bai-xiang Chi, Wen Ma, Jun Wang School of Materials Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Thin Film and Coatings, Hohhot 010051, Inner Mongolia, China A novel fluorhydroxyapatite/calcium silicate (FHA/CS) composite coating is prepared by suspension plasma spraying (SPS). The constituent phases are selected to combine the high-bonding strength of CS to Ti substrate with the long-term stability of FHA. A microstructural investigation is performed on the FHA/CS composite coating using different characterization methods. The results show that the FHA and CS phases are evenly distributed throughout the coatings. The chemical stability of the coatings is assessed by evaluating the release of Ca2+ ions. And the coatings¡¯ adhesion to the substrate is measured by means of scratch tests. These analysises indicate that the combination of FHA and CS has a positive effect on improving the dissolution resistance and adhesion strength of the coatings. The bioactivity is characterized by immersing FHA/CS composite coatings in simulated body fluid for different times. The result shows that the coatings possess a comparative apatite-forming ability with pure HA coatings.