Post-deposition heat treatment temperature effect on hydroxyapatite coating

This study involved the preparation of hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticle coatings on a Ti6Al4V substrate using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) as the coating technique. Their surface morphology, elemental composition, microstructure, crystalline phases, and mechanical performance were investigated before and after heat treatment using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scratch testing. Heat treatment changed the surface morphology and internal structure of the coatings. Scratch test results showed that the heat-treated samples withstood higher critical loads and exhibited stronger adhesion to the substrate. According to the findings, the heat treatment improves the mechanical properties and bonding strengths of the coating while also improving scratch resistance further improving its efficacy for biomedical coating systems.