Bioverit (R) I base glass/Ti particulate biocomposite: "in situ" vacuum plasma spray deposition

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.