Hydroxy- and fluorapatite films on Ti alloy substrates: Sol-gel preparation and characterization

In this paper we describe the preparation of hydroxyfluorapatite (HFA) and fluorapatite (FA) films deposited on titanium alloys by means of the dip-co ating method starting from a sol-gel prepared colloidal solution. These mat erials are compared with hydroxyapatite (HA) films prepared via sol gel and commercial films prepared by means of plasma spray. The film characterizat ion from the point of view of the composition and crystallinity, performed by means of XRD, FTIR and Raman Spectroscopies, has shown a good purity deg ree, and compositional homogeneity for the sol-gel materials, though traces of carboxy-hydroxy apatite were found. Also, the samples exhibit a good cr ystallinity. SEM pictures, taken on HA coating deposited via sol-gel, revea led a homogeneous surface structure and optimum features to set up a good p rosthesis-tissue interface. (C) 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.