Microstructure and Micro-Mechanical Properties of Thermally Sprayed HA-TiO₂ Coating on Beta-Titanium Substrate

Metallic biomaterials in a solid form cause stress-shielding in orthopedic applications. Such implants also suffer from limited tissue attachment to become a part of the living system. In view of that, hydroxyapatite (HA) coating reinforced with titanium oxide (TiO₂) was deposited in a beta (β)-Titanium (Ti-35Nb-7Ta-5Zr) substrate by plasma spray. This allows us to exploit the best of the two materials, namely the relatively low modulus of β-Ti, together with the porous and bone-like structure/composition of the HA to facilitate cell growth. This is foreseen to be used as an implant, particularly for musculoskeletal-related disability. Detailed scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigation shows the lamellar structure of the coating that is composed of different phases and some porosities. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirms the co-existence of both the amorphous and crystalline phases that build up the coating structure. In situ micro-mechanical tests revealed that the HA-TiO₂ coating was low in strength and modules compared to that of the substrate material, together with lower ductility. The yield stress and modulus of elasticity of the coating were about 877 ± 174 MPa and 447 ± 24 MPa, respectively. In contrast, the beta (β)-Ti substrate possesses about 990 ± 85 MPa of yield stress and 259 ± 19 MPa modulus of elasticity. The deformation mechanism was also quite different, where the coating crumbled under compressive loading, featuring limited ductility with cleavage (brittle)-type fracture, and the substrate showed plastic flow of materials in the form of slip/shear planes with extended ductility.