Apatite formation on titanium substrates by electrochemical deposition in metastable calcium phosphate solution.

An apatite layer was successfully formed on titanium substrates by electrochemical deposition in a metastable calcium phosphate solution, which had 1.5 times the ion concentrations of a normal simulated body fluid, but did not contain MgCl(2).6H(2)O, at 41 degrees C for 40 or 60 min at 13 mA. The current did not produce large effects on the crystalline size of the apatite, but the thickness of the apatite layer could be controlled by deposition conditions such as electrolyte temperature, current and deposition time. It is expected that the present electrochemical deposition will be useful to rapidly coat apatite on metallic materials.