Microstructural characterization was performed on plasma-spray coated calci
um phosphate and its interface with Ti-6Al-4V using scanning and transmissi
on electron microscopy. The amorphous calcium phosphate phase was found nea
r the coating/substrate interface, usually in between the crystalline hydro
xyapatite grains and the Ti-6Al-4V substrate. The presence of the amorphous
calcium phosphate and the channels extending from the interface to the coa
ting surface was attributed to the low interfacial bond strength in a physi
ological environment. There was an indication of titanium diffusing into th
e amorphous regions. However, no reaction phases were found between the coa
ting and the Ti-6Al-4V substrate. In the coating area remote from the inter
face, no intergranular amorphous calcium phosphate phase was observed. The
microstructure of the Ti-6Al-4V substrate near the interface was observed t
o be affected by heat generated during plasma spraying. (C) 1998 Kluwer Aca
demic Publishers.