Preparation and characterization of a calcium-phosphate-silicon coating on a Mg-Zn-Ca alloy via two-step micro-arc oxidation.

Magnesium alloys are the most promising implant materials due to their excellent biodegradability. However, their high degradation rate limits their practical application. In this study, we produced a calcium-phosphate (Ca-P) coating and a calcium-phosphate-silicon (Ca-P-Si) coating via one-step and two-step micro-arc oxidation processes, respectively. The microstructure and chemical composition of the MAO coatings were characterized using SEM, XRD and EDS. The degradation behaviors of the MAO coatings and the substrate were investigated using electrochemical techniques and immersion tests in simulated body fluid (SBF). The results show that the silicate was successfully incorporated into the Ca-P coating in the second MAO step, and this also increased the thickness of the coating. The Ca-P-Si coatings remarkably reduced the corrosion rate of the Mg alloy and Ca-P coating during 18 days of immersion in SBF. In addition, the bone-like apatite layer on the sample surface demonstrated the good biomineralization ability of the Ca-P-Si coating. Potentiodynamic polarization results showed that the MAO coating could clearly enhance the corrosion resistance of the Mg alloy. Moreover, we propose the growth mechanism of the MAO coating in the second step.

Preparation and characterization of laser cladding wollastonite derived bioceramic coating on titanium alloy.

The bioceramic coating is fabricated on titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) by laser cladding the preplaced wollastonite (CaSiO3) powders. The coating on Ti6Al4V is characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy, and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared. The interface bonding strength is measured using the stretching method using an RGD-5-type electronic tensile machine. The microhardness distribution of the cross-section is determined using an indentation test. The in vitro bioactivity of the coating on Ti6Al4V is evaluated using the in vitro simulated body fluid (SBF) immersion test. The microstructure of the laser cladding sample is affected by the process parameters. The coating surface is coarse, accidented, and microporous. The cross-section microstructure of the ceramic layer from the bottom to the top gradually changes from cellular crystal, fine cellular-dendrite structure to underdeveloped dendrite crystal. The coating on Ti6Al4V is composed of CaTiO3, CaO, α-Ca2SiO4, SiO2, and TiO2. After soaking in the SBF solution, the calcium phosphate layer is formed on the coating surface.

Influence of heat treatments upon the mechanical properties and in vitro bioactivity of ZrO2-toughened MgO-CaO-SiO2-P2O5-CaF2 glass-ceramics.

Zirconia-toughened MgO-CaO-SiO2-P2O5-CaF2 glass-ceramics are prepared using sintering techniques, and a series of heat treatment procedures are designed to obtain a glass-ceramic with improved properties. The crystallization behavior, phase composition, and morphology of the glass-ceramics are characterized. The bending strength, elastic modulus, fracture toughness, and microhardness of the glass-ceramics are investigated, and the effect mechanism of heat treatments upon the mechanical properties is discussed. The bioactivity of glass-ceramics is then evaluated using the in vitro simulated body fluid (SBF) soaking test, and the mechanism whereby apatite forms on the glass-ceramic surfaces in the SBF solution is discussed. The results indicate that the main crystal phase of the G-24 sample undergoing two heat treatment procedures is Ca5(PO4)3F (fluorapatite), and those of the G-2444 sample undergoing four heat treatment procedures are Ca5(PO4)3F and ß-CaSiO3 (ß-wollastonite). The heat treatment procedures are found to greatly influence the mechanical properties of the glass-ceramic, and an apatite layer is induced on the glass-ceramic surface after soaking in the SBF solution.