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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Graphene Coatings for Biomedical Implants
Published on: March 1, 2013
Coating of Sandblasted and Acid-Etched Dental Implants With Tantalum Using Vacuum Plasma Spraying
Xian Zhou1, Xiulian Hu2, Ye Lin3
1Master Degree Candidate, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
Purpose:
The objective was to prepare tantalum (Ta)-coated sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) dental implants using vacuum plasma spraying (VPS) and to analyze their morphologies.
Materials And Methods:
Twelve SLA implants were coated with Ta using VPS. The topographies of the coatings and Ta/SLA surface interfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy. The thickness at 4 locations for 6 Ta-coated and 6 uncoated SLA implants and pore sizes of the neck, central, and root areas of Ta-coated implants were measured. SPSS v20.0 was used for statistical analysis.
Results:
The Ta coatings were rough and consisted of pitted structures with various pore sizes; no cracks were observed. The Ta/SLA surface interface was tightly bonded. The 95% confidence interval of the Ta coating thickness was (114.0759, 129.3574). The maximal pore diameter was concentrated at 200 to 400 nm.
Conclusion:
SLA dental implants were successfully coated with Ta using VPS. The nanoporous structure of these implants may facilitate osseointegration compared with uncoated SLA implants.
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