Hydroxyapatite film coating by thermally induced liquid-phase deposition method for titanium implants.

Thermally induced liquid-phase deposition method was employed to produce a thin hydroxyapatite (HA) film on a titanium substrate in a metastable calcium phosphate solution. Titanium foil of 100x10x0.02 mm3 was used as a substrate. Prior to HA coating, the substrate was immersed in 5 M NaOH solution at 60 degrees C for 24 hours. Substrate temperature was kept constant at 60 degrees C for 0.5-3 hours by electrical heating with a DC power source in the metastable calcium phosphate solution. An X-ray diffractogram indicated that the film deposited on the titanium substrate was composed of HA. The amount of HA deposited increased with increase in heating time. These results suggested that a uniform HA film can be formed by simple chemical and thermal treatments. Based on the results of this study, this technique seemed to be useful for producing uniform HA coatings on complex-shaped and porous dental implants.