Ka. Gross et al., AMORPHOUS PHASE-FORMATION IN PLASMA-SPRAYED HYDROXYAPATITE COATINGS, Journal of biomedical materials research, 39(3), 1998, pp. 407-414
The amorphous phase content of air plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite coati
ngs is dependent upon spraying and deposition conditions. X-ray diffra
ction and optical microscopy were used to investigate the influence of
spray parameters on the formation of the amorphous phase. Results sho
w three factors which most influence the formation of the amorphous ph
ase: dehydroxylation of the molten particle during flight, the cooling
rate as it impinges onto the metal substrate, and the substrate tempe
rature. Crystalline regions were identified as unmelted particles and
elongated recrystallized areas. Amorphous phase regions vary throughou
t the coating but are more commonly found at the coating-substrate int
erface, i.e., the regions decrease toward the surface of the coating.
Such an inhomogeneous distribution of phase content is expected to aff
ect the clinical process of bone deposition, and therefore successful
implant fixation. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.