Host: The Japanese Society for Dental Materials and Devices
Commercial orthopedic and dental implants coated by plasma-sprayed HA combines the strength of titanium (Ti) or Ti alloy and the bioactivity of HA. However, the plasma-spray coating method has the following disadvantages: coating obtained has inhomogenous composition (e.g., variable concentrations of HA and amorphous calcium phosphate, ACP, hence variable HA/ACP ratios from between the outer and inner layers of the coating leading to unpredictable biodegradation; does not permit coating of implant with complex geometry; and high temperature does not allow incorporation of bioactive molecules. The purpose of this study was to deposit octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and different types of apatites (calcium deficient apatites, AP; fluoride-substituted (FAP) and carbonate-substituted (CHA) apatites on Ti (Ti6Al4V) substrates using pulse-modulated electrochemical deposition (ECD) method. Studies showed that using pulse modulated ECD, desired homogeneous coating composition (OCP, AP, FAP, CHA) and thickness (10m or thicker) can be obtained at low temperature (25, 37 or 60 oC) by appropriate adjustments of pH, temperature and electrolyte composition.
