A further insight into pores in plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite coating

Pores in hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings affect their mechanical and biological performances, and so far pore characteristic and formation mechanism are not fully understood. In the present study, microstructural observations on plasma sprayed HA coating have been carried out, indicating that globular pores exist commonly on coating surface, cross-sectional facet and fracture surface. Analysis of HA particles plasma sprayed into water shows that hollow HA spheres were formed, and the hollow spheres will transform into globular pores when they impact onto the substrate.