Coating analysis of implant materials used in orthopaedic surgery

Biocompatibility of orthopaedic surgical implants with bone tissue allows adequate osseointegration between the bone and implant. To achieve this, implants are coated with biocompatible materials. The costly plasma spray procedure is routinely used to coat implants but uses high temperatures (over 16,000 degrees C), which affect the surface quality and microstructure of the implant. We analysed the effect of sintering temperature, time and rate on coated and uncoated implants using a dipping method. The effectiveness of synthetic hydrated calcium silicate compound as an interlayer was also investigated, using the dipping method and electrophoretic deposition. Sintering temperature, time and rate all affected the quality of the bond with the coating, but the interlayer bonded effectively with both implant and biocompatible coating. Electrophoretic deposition resulted in imperfect bonding and some irregularity on the substrate surface was seen. This technique may be improved by using coating particles of a smaller size.