Deposition of hydroxyapatite on titanium foils by microwave processing

Hydroxyapatite (HA) was deposited on commercially pure titanium foils by microwave processing. Initially a coat of HA was formed on titanium foil by a simple dip-coating method. Prior to the coating, the substrate surface was etched in hydrofluoric acid to have an optimal surface morphology and thickness. The foil was subsequently exposed to microwave irradiation using a domestic microwave oven. The power and duration of the irradiation were adjusted for improving coating adhesion to the substrate: The coated implant materials have been characterised by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and adhesion test. The XRD result indicated that crystalline HA was deposited successfully on the titanium foil. The cross-section of the treated foil revealed that the deposition of HA within the surface cavities was non-uniform. The results suggest that hydroxyapatite deposits of thickness about 30 μm are formed on titanium foil by microwave processing. Copyright © 2004 by Society for Advancement of Heat Treatment & Surface Engineering (SAHTSE).