Thermal spraying of bioceramic (Hydroxyapatite) coatings

Abstract

he rapid advancement of ceramic science has resulted in the development of a wide range of bioceramics with excellent chemical, physical and mechanical properties. Hydroxyapatite (HA) is one such biomaterial which possesses unique biocompatibility that can promote osteogenesis or new bone formation. Thermal spray processes like plasma spraying are widely used to coat metallic implants with HA which proved to be highly effective. However, investigations revealed that HA tends to lose its bioactivity and its degree of crystallinity as more bioinert and bioresorbable phases are being formed as a result of thermal degradation and partial dehydroxylation of HA during plasma spraying.