Characterization of nanostructured hydroxyapatite prepared by Nd:YAG laser deposition

Pulsed laser deposition, under dry and water vapor conditions, was employed to synthesize nanostructured hydroxyapatite films by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) of chlorapatite target for the purpose of coating metallic bone implants by this material. A pulsed Nd:YAG laser operating at a wavelength of 1064 nm and emitting 9 ns pulses was used for deposition. AFM microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, optical microscopy, adhesion and microhardness measurements were conducted to characterize the films. The in vitro test for the synthesized hydroxyapatite was performed using simulated body fluid (SBF). The results showed a successful transformation of the chlorapatite to hydroxyapatite films characterized by all the HAp peaks with 60 nm root mean square roughness, (80–327) nm grain size, and a microhardness of 512 HV.

► We examined a novel technique to synthesize nanostructured hydroxyapatite.
► Pulsed Nd:YAG laser in presence of water vapor was used for this technique.
► Good control on microhardness and topography was obtained.
► The deposition temperature strongly affects film roughness and grain size.
► The deposited film was uniform and crack free.