Bioceramic coatings; state-of-the art and recent development trends

Work on the application of bioceramic hydroxylapatite coatings by plasma spray technique shows that the microstructure, cohesion and adhesion strength, and the in vivo resorption resistance of such coatings can be optimized by selecting appropriate plasma parameters. Since the functionality of a coating system depends on the chemical and phase compositions at the substrate/coating interface, proper engineering of its microstructure is of paramount importance. Dense, highly crystalline, pure hydroxylapatite coatings show maximum mechanical and biochemical stability in the very corrosive body environment. Ways of potentially improving the properties of these plasma-sprayed coatings are discussed.