Bioactivity of Plasma Sprayed Calcium Silicate/ZrO₂ Composite Coatings

In this work, 30wt% calcium silicate, including wollastonite and dicalcium silicate, were mixed with 70wt% ZrO₂, respectively. The composite powders were deposited onto Ti-6Al-4V substrates to prepare wollastonite/ZrO₂ and dicalcium silicate/ZrO₂ composite coatings using plasma spraying technology. The bioactivity of coatings was evaluated using simulated body fluid soaking test. After the composite coatings were soaked in simulated body fluid for a certain period, apatite was formed on the surface of the wollastonite/ZrO₂ and dicalcium silicate/ZrO₂ composite coatings. In addition, the ZrO₂ in composite coatings may protect the calcium silicate in the coatings from dissolving in simulated body fluid.