FABRICATION OF PURE HYDROXYAPATITE AND FLUORIDATED-HYDROXYAPATITE COATINGS BY ELECTROCRYSTALLIZATION

Plasma-sprayed coatings of hydroxyapatite (HA) applied to metal implan ts are biocompatible and capable of forming strong chemical bonds with natural bone tissue. However, structural changes normally occur in th ese coatings as a result of high-temperature transformation during the process which may adversely affect the chemical stability of the coat ing in vivo. This paper reports an electrochemical route for fabricati ng pure HA and fluoridated-HA coatings at low temperatures which elimi nates the risk of phase transformation in these coatings.