Effect of milling conditions on the properties of HA/Ti feedstock powders and plasma-sprayed coatings

Various hydroxyapatite/titanium (HA/Ti) powders were prepared by ball milling using different milling times and rotational rates. The corresponding coatings were fabricated by air plasma spraying. The influence of milled powders on the microstructure and mechanical properties of plasma sprayed composite coatings was studied. The results showed the compositions of the plasma-sprayed coatings which were remarkably different from those of the initial powders. Increasing milling time and rotational rates reduced the porosity of the final coatings, thus improving their mechanical behavior. Apatite was formed on all the composite coatings after immersion in SBF for a certain time.