Electrophoretic deposition of carbon nanotubes–hydroxyapatite nanocomposites on titanium substrate

Carbon nanotubes–hydroxyapatite (CNTs–HA) composites were synthesized, using an in situ chemical method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). HA particles were uniformly absorbed on the CNTs, with strong interfacial bonding. The CNTs–HA composites behaved like single composites when deposited on a titanium substrate by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). EPD was carried out at 10, 20 and 40 V, for 0.5 to 8 min at each voltage. Coating efficiency and weight increased with increasing deposition time, while the slope of the curves decreased, indicating a decrease in deposition rate. The CNTs–HA coating morphology was analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that decreasing the voltage used for deposition coatings could reduce cracking frequency. Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies showed that the deposition coatings protected the titanium substrate from corroding in simulated body fluid (SBF). In addition, in vitro cellular responses to the CNTs–HA coatings were assessed to investigate the proliferation and morphology of osteoblast cell line.