CALCIUM-PHOSPHATE COATINGS PREPARED BY ELECTROCRYSTALLIZATION FROM AQUEOUS-ELECTROLYTES

The concept of biological fixation of artificial joint prosthesis by using bioactive calcium phosphate coatings has generated considerable interest in recent decades. This paper reports an electrochemical route for fabricating hydroxyapatite (HA), carbonated-HA and fluoridated-HA coatings on porous and non-porous substrates at relatively low temperatures, using aqueous electrolytes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (IR) were used to characterize the morphology, structure and chemical composition of the coatings. The results suggest that the electrochemical route for the fabrication of bioactive calcium phosphate coatings may offer significant advantages over the currently used methods.