Effect of AI_2O_3, ZrO_2, and TiO_2 Addition on the Mechanical Properties and the Microstructure of Natural Hydroxyapatite Obtained from Calf Femoral Bone

摘要

Pure hydroxyapatite (HA) was obtained by the calcination of calf femoral bone and was ground manually and by subsequent mechanical grinding to decrease the particle size. Micron-sized Al_2O_3, ZrO_2, and TiO_2 ceramics were added at different concentrations (5, 10 and 15 wt. %) to the obtained micron-sized HA powder. After adequate mixing cylindrical test specimen were prepared and sintered at 900, 1000 and 1100 ℃. The specimen were tested for their compressive strengths and SEM observations and XRD analyses were conducted to determine the effect of different additives and sintering temperatures on the mechanical strengths, morphology and formed phases of the samples. TiO_ addition to the HA at 15 wt. % powder resulted in highest compressive strength with good sintering behavior.