Electrophoretic deposition of hydroxyapatite coatings on titanium from dimethylformamide suspensions

Hydroxyapatite powders were prepared by a chemical precipitation method and electrophoretically deposited on pure Ti surgical substrates. The powders were suspended in dimethylformamide (DMF). The zeta potential, electromobility and the conductivity of the HA suspension was characterized at various pH values to identify the most stable dispersion conditions. The effect of applied voltage and deposition time on deposition rate, deposition thickness and coating morphology were studied. The coating morphology and composition were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The crystalline phase of HA before and after electrophoretic deposition was examined using X- ray diffraction (XRD). Transition electron microscope (TEM) indicated that HA consisted of needle-shaped crystallites.