Phases Transformations in Laser Treated Hydroxyapatite Coatings

The hydroxyapatite Ca10(PO4)6OH2 (HAP) was plasma sprayed onto titanium alloy substrate. The samples having thickness of about 150 µm ware sprayed in a way to obtain two different content of crystalline HAP: 25 an 30 %. The coatings ware subsequently submitted to laser treatment with the CO2 laser. The treatment was carried out with different laser powers and scanning velocities and resulting thereof sample surface temperatures and the kinetics of the thermal fields ware monitored with a pyrometer. The XRD method enabled verification of the crystallinity state of HAP, content of amorphous calcium phosphate and the content of foreign phases. Optical microscope was used to check the microstructure and the depth of laser modified zone.