Only one material is used for thermally sprayed layers in medical technology: hydroxyapatite. This is considered to be stable for long-term and is being used more and more in endoprosthetics. This paper presents and examines a previously unused material, calcium carbonate, for its suitability for injection-molding processing. The first in-vitro results round off the very positive results so far. Paper includes a German-language abstract.

This paper investigates the influence of spraying current and gun transverse speed on the characteristics of the hydroxyapatite (HA) and Ti-6A1-4V composite coatings. Two different kinds of feedstock are being used; HA and Ti-6A1-4V in the ratio of 80 v/t. %: 20 wt. % and 50 wt. %: 50 wt. % respectively. The paper investigates the influence of the plasma spray currents at 600 A, 800 A, and 1000 A and the influence of the feed speeds of the spray gun at 250 mm/s, 500 mm/s, and 750 mm/s. It examines the powders or coatings using an Instron machine, XRD, and scanning electron microscopy. It is found that a spraying current of l000 A, relative to 600 A and 800 A, gives a coating that is less porous and composed of a well-splayed structure. It also yields the highest bond strength among the coatings. Paper includes a German-language abstract.

Coatings with magnetic properties were produced by vaccum plasma spraying of different Nd-Fe-B powders onto stainless¬steel substrates. Microscopic examination of the coatings in a light microscope revealed a low porosity and a good bonding to the substrate. Scanning electron microscope examinations have shown different phases in these coatings. The magnetic properties of the coatings are also presented. Paper text in German.