As zinc phosphate acts as a versatile material for potential biomedical applications, it was modified into a thin layer coating for orthopaedic applications in the present study. A unique layering system consisting of pure substrate (316L SS), thick Fe-Zn alloy layers, thin ZnP layer on which a hydroxyapatite (HA) layer, was developed and studied. The composition, surface morphology and corrosion resistance characteristics of the layering system was evaluated. The stability of the multi-layered coating system consisting of ZnP inter layer, was evaluated by subjecting to different extent of dissolution in aggressive physiological media followed by allowing for re-growth in simulated body fluid (SBF). The coating system revealed good stability. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.