披覆氫氧基磷灰石（HA）的鈦合金植入材，由於具有優異生物相容性及機械性質，已廣泛應用在承受負荷之牙科及人工關節置換手術上。本研究是使用磁控濺鍍法披覆一層HA/Ti複合薄膜於鈦合金基板上，評估薄膜浸置在模擬體液後之機械性質變化。結果顯示HA/Ti鍍膜厚度均勻、緻密，與基材鍵結良好；所有鍍膜附著強度皆高達60-70 MPa。鍍膜一旦浸泡於模擬體液後，高結晶性HA及非晶質 95HA/5Ti 鍍膜將會瓦解。然而靶材含10 vol% 以上Ti 成份時，近非晶質的HA/Ti鍍膜仍完整，即使浸泡１４週附著強度變幅亦不大，皆高於60MPa。硬度結果呈現長期耐久性。表面為HA/Ti 的薄膜(含Ti量 10-25 vol%)有牙科及骨科植入材臨床應用的潛力。
Hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated Ti-6AI-4V alloy is a promising implant material for orthopedic and dental applications because of its biocompatibility and mechanical properties. We evaluated mechanical properties of thin, magnetron-sputtered hydroxyapatite/titanium (HA/Ti) composite coatings before and after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). Experimental results showed that as-sputtered HA/Ti coatings were of uniform thickness and appeared smooth, dense and well-bonded to substrate. Bond strengths of all as-sputtered coatings were between 60 and 70 MPa. Crystalline HA and amorphous-like HA/Ti coatings that contained 5 vol% Ti were highly dissolvable when immersed in SBF solution. In contrast, coatings sputtered from targets composed of 10 vol% or more of Ti appeared almost intact and their bond strengths changed little (p>0.05), remaining at least 60 MPa after a 14-week immersion. Hardness values also indicated long-term durability (up to 14 weeks). Coatings from targets comprised of roughly 10-25 vol% Ti combined advantages of high and non-declining adhesion strength and high resistance to SBF attack. Sputtered HA/Ti coatings are potential candidates for dental and orthopedic prostheses.
