In order to investigate the stability of Hydroxyapatite (HA) coated material, the plasma-sprayed coatings of HA were divided into four groups: 1. Keeping in water vapour at 125 degrees C, with a pressure of 0.15 MPa for 6 hr; 2. Heating at 650 degrees C in air for half an hr; 3. Keeping in water vapour at 490 degrees C, with a pressure of 0.01 MPa for 2 hr; and 4. The control. The XRD, FTIR analysis and the dissolution test were carried out. The results showed: 1. The degree of crystalization in XRD analysis was 3. gt; 1. gt; 2. gt; 4.; 2. The ampitude of OH- peak in FTIR analysis was 3. gt; 1. gt; 2. gt; 4. and 3. The dissolution rate in tris-HCl buffer was 3. lt; 1. lt; 2. lt; 4. The conclusions were 1. The treating with water vapour could decrease the transformation temperature which was needed to convert the amorphous phase into cystalline phase; 2. Water vapour treatment could accelerate the transformation of Z-TCP, TCPM into crystalline HA; 3. Water vapour treatment could promote the structural integrity of plasma--sprayed coated of and HA and 4. Water vapour treatment could lower the dissolution rate of HA coated in Tris-HCl buffer.
