Fabrication and characterization of hydroxyapatite/Al2O3 biocomposite coating on titanium

A novel biocomposite coating of hydroxyapatite/A12O3 was fabricated on titanium using a multi-step technique including physical vapor deposition(PVD), anodization, electrodeposition and hydrothermal treatment. Anodic Al2O3 layer with micrometric pore diameter was formed by anodization of the PVD-deposited aluminum film on titanium and subsequent removal of part barrier Al2O3 layer. Hydroxyapatite coating was then electrodeposited onto the as-synthesized anodic Al2O3 on titanium. A hydrothermal process was finally applied to the fabricated biocomposite coating on titanium in alkaline medium. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry(EDS) and X-ray diffractometry(XRD) were employed to investigate the morphologies and compositions of the pre- and post-hydrothermally treated hydroxyapatite/Al2O3 biocomposite coatings. The results show that micrometric plate-like Ca-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA) coatings are directly electrodeposited onto anodic Al2O3 at constant current densities ranging from 1.2 to 2.0 mA/cm2 using NaH2PO4 as the phosphorous source. After hydrothermal treatment, the micrometric plate-like CDHA coating electrodeposited at 2.0 mA/cm2 is converted into nano-network Ca-rich hydroxyapatite (CRHA) one and the adhesion strength is improved from 9.5 MPa to 21.3 MPa. A mechanism of dissolution-recrystallization was also proposed for the formation of CRHA.