A sol-gel bioactive film of the SiO2-CaO-P2O5 system was prepared, via a sol-gel method, by hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethylortosilicate [TEOS], triethylphosphate [TEP] and hydrated calcium nitrate under acidic conditions. After mixing, the as-obtained solution was used to coat stainless steel substrates by dip-coating in a low withdraw speed. After deposition, the composite was heat treated at different temperatures for 1 h to evaluate the temperature influence on the thickness of the coating over the stainless steel substrate. The development of the coating thickness was accessed through the techniques of scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and glow discharge spectroscopy (GDS). Results indicated the heat treatment effect on the film thickness. Also, the SEM and the GDS techniques were used to determine the thin bioactive coating thickness.
sol-gel; bioactive film; thickness
