a monetite coating on H2O2-treated C/C composites was prepared by ultrasonic induction heating (UIH) technology. Subsequently, this coating was subjected to an ammonia hydrothermal treatment to form a undoped hydroxyapatite (U-HA) coating. Finally, the as-prepared U-HA coating was placed in a NaOH solution and hydrothermally treated to produce the other hydroxyapatite (Na-HA) coating. The structure, morphology and chemical composition of the two HA coatings were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM and EDS, the adhesiveness and local mechanical properties, e. g. nanohardness and Young's modulus of the two HA coatings to C/C composites was evaluated by a scratch test and nanoindentation technique respectively. The results showed that the two HA coatings had the alike morphology and crystallization. But, compared with the U-HA coating, the Na-HA coating was doped with Na ions, and gave a Ca/P ratio close to a stoichiometric hydroxyapatite, and thus showed a higher nano-indentation value, Young's modulus, and larger bonding strength. These results verified the strengthened effect of Na ion in hydroxyapatite coating on carbon/carbon (C/C) composities. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.