Pulsed laser deposition of SiO2 - P2O5 - CaO - MgO glass coatings on titanium substrates

Abstract

Thin films of bioactive glass-ceramic have been deposited on titanium substrates by the Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) technique under different experimental conditions. The effect of parameters such as deposition pressure and temperature of heat treatments was studied. The microstructure and the crystalline phases of the coatings were characterized using SEM, EDX and XRD analysis; the phases present were titanium oxides, calcium magnesium silicates and phosphates. The adhesion of the as-deposited films has been examined by scratch tests. The interfacial adhesion of the coatings was better when the deposition was performed at low pressure. Samples were immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF), and a calcium-phosphate precipitate was observed on the surface of less crystallized samples, suggesting that there is some relationship between surface reactivity and crystallinity.

Keywords

• coatings
• pulsed laser deposition
• glass-ceramics
• biomaterials