Sol-Gel Derived Hydroxylapatite Coatings for Biomedical Applications

This paper presents the preliminary findings of a novel coating technique for the deposition of hydroxylapatite coatings on ceramic substrates. Through the use of sol-gel methods crystalline coatings of hydroxylapatite on substrates of vycor glass, polycrystal line alumina and single crystal magnesia have been successfully produced. The production of sol-gel solutions, coatings and their analysis was examined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Results thus far indicate that high quality hydroxylapatite coatings can be produced on ceramic substrates, with coatings deposited in this manner offering a number of benefits over other coating methods.