Electrophoretic hydroxyapatite coatings and fibers

Submicron hydroxyapatite (HA) powders were prepared by a chemical precipitation method and electrophoretically deposited on individual carbon fibers, carbon fiber bundles and felts. After burning out of the fibrous carbon substrates the corresponding ceramic replicas were sintered. Experimental conditions were found for the formation of uniform HA coatings and hollow HA fibers of various diameters. The inner diameter of the hollow HA fibers can be controlled by variation of the number of carbon fibers in the bundle. The influence of the applied voltage on coating uniformity and deposition rate is discussed. Obtained coatings and fibers were characterized by SEM. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.