MORPHOLOGY AND MICROSTRUCTURE OF ELECTROCHEMICALLY DEPOSITED CALCIUM PHOSPHATES IN A MODIFIED SIMULATED BODY-FLUID

Calcium phosphates were deposited on a pure titanium plate for various loading times under 1.3 and 12.9 mA/cm(2) in a modified simulated bod y fluid at 52-92 degrees C. The plate-like crystals formed under 1.3 m A/cm2 were identified to be octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and/or carbona te-containing apatite. OCP converted to carbonate-containing apatite w ith the elapsing time of the loading current. The needle-like precipit ates formed under 12.9 mA/cm2 were identified to be carbonate-containi ng apatite crystals elongated parallel to the c-axis direction. The de grees of crystallinity of the deposits formed under 1.3 mA/cm2 showed the highest value around 72 degrees C, whereas those under 12.9 mA/cm2 increased with the electrolyte temperature. The carbonate content of the deposits decreased with the electrolyte temperature and the flow c urrent. The degree of crystallinity of the electrochemically deposited calcium phosphates decreased with the carbonate content. (C) 1998 Pub lished by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.