Bioactive coatings on titanium can be prepared by dispersing hydroxyapatite particles into a borosilicate glass enamel doped with TiO2. Adhesion of the coating is obtained when the titanium substrate has been preoxidized before enameling in such a way as to form a continuous TiO2-layer. Adhesion results from the diffusion of this TiO2-layer into the liquid glass during enameling. The evolution of the diffusion zone was followed by scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis. Adhesion disappears after a critical time of firing which corresponds to the completion of the dissolution of the TiO2-layer by the glass. The borosilicate glass wets the hydroxyapatite particles and adheres strongly to them after cooling.
Van Landuyt, P., Streydio, J.-M., Delannay, F., & Munting, E. (1994). Synthesis of bioactive coatings on Ti substrates using glass enamel. Clinical Materials, 17(1), 29-33. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/130484 (Original work published 1994)