Thin Films and Nanocoatings of Hydroxyapatite on Titanium Implants

Over the years, the research and applications of calcium phosphate materials as nanocoatings for dental and biomedical applications have undergone a revolution to become a state-of-the-art approach for improving osseointegration of implants and devices. Adhesion, mechanical properties and testing methods are used to determine the viability of thin films and nanocoatings on substrates and their performance under simulated physiological environments. In micro-coating techniques, perforation or delamination of the coatings can expose the substrate to accelerated wear or corrosion, and the released coating particles may act to accelerate third party wear resulting in a negative host response. An in-depth understanding of the adhesion of the implants and the susceptibility of the coating to cracking and delamination are reliability issues of critical importance.