Dissolution and Mechanical Properties of Sintered Hydroxyapatite Immersed in Water

摘要

Dissolution of hydroxyapatite (HAp) in distilled water and related mechanical properties were investigated. The commercially obtained stoichiometric HAp powders were used as starting materials. After preparing powder compacts, the disks were sintered at 1200°C for 2 h in air with under moisture protection. The sintered specimens were then placed into 40 ml of 7.4 distilled water. After immersing for certain period of time at 37°C, weight loss, microstructure, and mechanical characteristics of the specimens were investigated. Fracture toughnesses were measured for both sintered and immersed HAp for comparison. Evidence for the surface damage was observed with appearance of micron-level of pitting and grain boundaries dissolved. The value for fracture toughness decreased due to dissolution of the materials.