Apatite coating of metallic materials, process and use thereof

Production of apatite-coated metal material by an electrochemical process using a metal substrate electrode, a counterelectrode and an electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution containing calcium and phosphate ions, comprises performing several successive cathodic polarization cycles comprising polarization in one or more stages at the same or different high constant current densities followed by a rinsing and/or drying step. An Independent claim is also included for an apatite-coated metal material in which the coating comprises a dense layer of hydroxyapatite crystals and/or amorphous calcium phosphate spheres and has a surface area of less than 15 m /g.