beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) powders are embedded in a fluoridated hydroxyapatite (FHA) matrix to form beta-TCP-FHA composites via colloidal-sol gel method. This composite layer is deposited on top of a FHA layer to forin a beta-TCP-MA/FHA biphasic coating. The effect of the nanosized powder on the residual stress is characterized through the X-ray diffraction peak shift. The powder incorporation increases the residual stress, while a large amount of beta-TCP (Ca-powder/Ca-sol ratio is higher than 1/2) results in less gel shrinkage that partially compensates the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficient and thus the residual stress. Despite the elevated residual stress as more powders are embedded, the coating adhesion strength remains virtually constant: around 430 mN-500 mN in scanning scratch test. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.