Bioverit® I base glass/Ti particulate biocomposite: “in situ” vacuum plasma spray deposition

Bioverit®I is a bioactive glass–ceramic used for bone substitutions in several fields of human surgery. In this work, the possibility of using Bioverit®I as matrix of a biocomposite toughened by Ti particles, in order to toughen this glass–ceramic and to widen its application fields, was investigated. Bioverit®I base glass matrix/Ti particle biocomposite (B1T) coatings were prepared by vacuum plasma spray (VPS), by spraying a mixture of glass powders and 15 vol% titanium particles on Ti–6Al–4V substrates. The composite coatings were prepared starting from the base glass powders, in order to fully utilise the softening properties of this material in its amorphous state. The coatings were characterised by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Vickers indentations at the interface between the substrate and the coatings and shear strength measurements were performed in order to analyse the adherence of the coatings to the substrate. The surface reactivity of the coatings was evaluated by soaking the coated samples in a simulated body fluid (SBF) having the same ion concentration as the human plasma and by analysing the Si, Ca and P ion concentration while soaking.