Thermal sprayed bioceramics coatings for metallic implants

Abstract

Metallic implants are the most commonly used implants in biomedical applications. Calcium phosphate bioceramics, especially hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings are used to improve the osseiointegration and bonding between the implant and the bone interface. A number of techniques have been suggested in literature to develop implant coatings. The thermal spray methods such as plasma spray and high velocity oxy-fuel spray coating techniques shows great potential for biomedical applications. The focus of present paper is to describe the thermal spray techniques for coating metallic implants, highlighting various issues related to thermally sprayed HA coatings on metallic implants with the help of existing literature.