E. Verne et al., Bioverit (R) I base glass/Ti particulate biocomposite: "in situ" vacuum plasma spray deposition, J EUR CERAM, 20(4), 2000, pp. 473-479
Bioverit(R)I is a bioactive glass-ceramic used for bone substitutions in se
veral fields of human surgery. In this work, the possibility of using Biove
rit(R)I as matrix of a biocomposite toughened by Ti particles, in order to
toughen this glass-ceramic and to widen its application fields, was investi
gated. Bioverit(R)I base glass matrix/Ti particle biocomposite (B1T) coatin
gs were prepared by vacuum plasma spray (VPS), by spraying a mixture of gla
ss powders and 15 vol% titanium particles on Ti-6Al-4V substrates. The comp
osite coatings were prepared starting from the base glass powders, in order
to fully utilise the softening properties of this material in its amorphou
s stale. The coatings were characterised by optical and scanning electron m
icroscopy (SEM), energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction
(XRD). Vickers indentations at the interface between the substrate and the
coatings and shear strength measurements were performed in order to analys
e the adherence of the coatings to the substrate. The surface reactivity of
the coatings was evaluated by soaking the coated samples in a simulated bo
dy fluid (SBF) having the same ion concentration as the human plasma and by
analysing the Si, Ca and P ion concentration while soaking. (C) 2000 Elsev
ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.