Deposition of Hydroxyapatie Coatings

Keywords: hydroxyapatite, bioactive ceramic coatings, implant coatings, dental coatings, surface blasting, rapid coating technology.

Description

This research is focused on understanding the use of microblast (CoBlast) for the deposition of hydroxyapatite coatings. CoBlast invovles the bombardment of the substrate surface with relatively low speed and low temperatures particles.  The process allows for the dopant material to be integrated into the new surface via a combination of tribochemical bonding and mechanical interlocking. The consequent biointerface is in effect an amalgam of the metal oxide and the deposited material rather than a coating in the traditional sense. Indeed, due to its unique conformation—a disjointed non-continuous deposition of bioceramic material in and on the metal oxide—the newly formed “modified” surface is not prone to delamination through chipping or peeling, as is the case with a coating.

Further research has begun to uinderstand the key coating parameters which influences the interaction with osteoblast cells and how surface modification or post-treatment can influence this interaction.

Contact details

Prof. Denis Dowling
Director UCD Surface Engineering
Email: denis.downling@ucd.ie