Plasma sputtering of bioactive coatings on medical implants and endoprostheses

Consideration is given to the advantages offered by plasma sputtering of bioactive calcium-phosphate coatings onto medical titanium implants and endoprostheses. It is shown that with this deposition process the substrate material is not embrittled and its surface is not oxidized. The bond strength is mainly governed by the contact processes upon impact, deformation, solidification, and cooling of the particles. This serves to produce a porous structure so that bone cells can readily grow into the implant material.