Biomimetic synthesis of calcium phosphate materials on alkaline-treated titanium.

The hydroxyapatite coating on metal implants is a suitable method to create a bioactive surface and to increase the bone-implant bonding strength. In this research, at first the titanium surface was treated with NaOH solutions; 5N and 10N at 60 degrees C for 24 h and 5N at 60 degrees C for 24 h followed by heating at 600 degrees C for 1 h. The samples were immersed in the simulated body fluid (SBF) for 28 days to generate a calcium phosphate coating on titanium substrates. The modified substrates and coatings were characterized using SEM and XRD. According to the results obtained in this work the concentration increase of the NaOH solution has influenced the grain boundaries, whereas the heat treatment at 600 degrees C has induced deeper and larger pores. Both the SEM images and the XRD spectra have illustrated the fact that the bone-like apatite had successfully been deposited on the titanium surface.