M. Cavalli et al., Hydroxy- and fluorapatite films on Ti alloy substrates: Sol-gel preparation and characterization, J MATER SCI, 36(13), 2001, pp. 3253-3260
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.