Apatite formed on the surface of plasma-sprayed wollastonite coating immersed in simulated body fluid

Wollastonite coatings on titanium alloys substrates were prepared by plasma spraying and incubated in simulated body fluids for different periods to investigate the nucleation and growth of apatite on their surface. Surface structural changes of the specimens were analyzed by XRD and IR technologies. SEM and EDS were used to observe surface morphologies and determine the composition of wollastonite coatings before and after immersion in simulated body fluid. The changes in the concentrations of calcium, silicon and phosphorus in the simulated body fluids due to the immersion of the specimens were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The results obtained showed that hydroxycarbonate apatite can be formed on the surface of the coating soaked in SBF for 1 day. With longer immersion periods, the coating surface was covered by hydroxycarbonate apatite, which indicated that the wollastonite coating possesses good bioactivity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.