Abstract
Optimal conditions for HA plasma spray-coating on Ti6Al4V alloy were investigated in order to obtain enhanced bone-bonding ability with Ti6Al4V alloy. The properties of plasma spray coated film were analyzed by SEM, XRD, surface roughness measurement, and adhesion strength test because the film's transformed phase and crystallinity were known to be influential to bone-bonding ability withTi6Al4V alloy. The films were formed by a plasma spray coating technique with various combinations of plasma power, spray distance, and auxiliary He gas pressure. The film properties were analyzed in order to determine the optimal spray coating parameters with which we will able to achieve enhanced bone-bonding ability with Ti6Al4V alloy. The most influential coating parameter was found to be the plasma spray distance to the specimen from the spray gun nozzle. Additionally, it was observed that a relatively higher film crystallinity can be obtained with lower auxiliary gas pressure. Moderate adhesion strength can be achievable at minimal plasma power. That is, adhesion strength is minimally dependent on the plasma power. The combination of shorter spray distance, lower auxiliary gas pressure, and moderate spray power can be recommended as the optimal spray conditions. In this study, optimal plasma spray coated films were formed with spray distance of 70 mm, plasma current of 800 A, and auxiliary gas pressure of 60 psi.
