AbstractBioactive ceramics used as coating materials combine the conductive properties of a bioceramic with the mechanical stability of the metal implant. We studied a calcium zirconium phosphate‐containing coating material, FA‐CZP [Ca5(PO4)3F, CaZr4(PO4)6], that is relatively insoluble in the biological milieu. The reaction of bone to this material was investigated histologically and histomorphometrically in an animal trial. Cylindrical Ti6Al4V specimens that had been coated with FA‐CZP by plasma spraying were implanted in the femoral condyles of rabbits. The implants were left in place for 2, 4, 6, 12, and 14 weeks. FA‐CZP led to impaired mineralization of the newly formed bone at the interface. Noncalcified osteoid was found throughout the whole study period. The layer seemed to become thicker with time. The mineralization disorder is evidently caused by zirconium ions. The presence of zirconium in the osteoid in contact with the implant was demonstrated by means of two different staining methods. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2008