Coatings in Arthroplasty: Review Paper

The modern coatings used in arthroplasty for long term implants are reviewed. The phosphate coatings are the most popular technique to improve the bone-implant interfacial strength and promote the osseointegration. The plasma spraying, electrophoretic precipitation, powder metallurgy, ion beam sputtering, high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) combustion spraying, sol-gel technique, biomimetic deposition are mostly used to obtain the phosphate, usually hydroxyapatite coatings.

The composite coatings based on HA are proposed to improve biochemical and mechanical properties. The Ti, Ti alloys, titania, zirconia, zinc particles and glasses are suggested to strengthen the HA matrix, and some organic compounds and polymers to improve the biochemical behaviour.

Among another coatings, titania, zirconia, aluminia, carbon and organic, glass - ceramics and titania - silicate coatings are mostly proposed.