Preparation and characterization of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate coating on enamel

A coating of 60–80 μm in thickness had been prepared on the surface of enamel by rapid growth of highly crystalline dicalcium phosphate dihydrate crystal (DCPD). The DCPD coating was formed by conversion of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA) in strong acidic conditions. The characterization of the coating was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). No obvious gap between the coating and the enamel was detected by SEM observation, which suggested that the coating adhered well to the enamel. Analysis of FT-IR and XRD revealed that the coating was a good match to DCPD. Moreover, the mean Vicker hardness number (VHN) of the coating was approximately 125, as measured by a microhardness tester.