STRUCTURE, SOLUBILITY AND BOND STRENGTH OF THIN CALCIUM-PHOSPHATE COATINGS PRODUCED BY ION-BEAM SPUTTER DEPOSITION

Ion beam sputter deposition was used to produce thin calcium phosphate coatings on titanium substrates. Structure, solubility and bond stren gth of the as-sputtered and heat treated coatings were evaluated. X-ra y diffraction (XRD) analysis of the heat treated coatings revealed a h ydroxyapatite-type structure. The heat treated coatings were found to have significantly lower solubility as compared to the amorphous as-sp uttered coatings. Although the crystalline coatings exhibited the lowe st solubility, in general, the bond strengths were lower for the heat treated coatings.