Author(s): Silva Marcelo Henrique Prado da | Lemos Alexandra Fernandes | Ferreira José Maria da Fonte | Santos José Domingos
Journal: Materials Research
ISSN 1516-1439
Volume: 6;
Issue: 3;
Start page: 321;
Date: 2003;
Original page
Keywords: CaO-P2O5 glass | hydroxyapatite | porous composites | bending | compression
ABSTRACT
In the present study, mechanical properties of porous glass reinforced hydroxyapatite bioceramics were assessed by microhardness, bending and compression tests and fracture toughness determination. Porous discs were produced by a dry method using wax spheres as pore formers. Green bodies were sintered and the final microstructure of the composites consists of hydroxyapatite, alpha and beta tricalcium phosphate (alpha and b-Ca3(PO4)2)due to the reaction between the glassy phase and the hydroxyapatite matrix. The results of the mechanical tests showed that the glassy phase yielded higher fracture toughness and bending strength when comparing with literature data for single hydroxyapatite. There is a compromise between mechanical properties and the porosity level for bioceramics: for example, according to Weibull statistics for composites with 65% porosity the maximum bending stress level is 0.2 MPa for 100% survival probability whereas this stress level increases to 2.5 MPa for composites with 40%. However, only the 65% porosity composite samples seem to have the complete adequate morphology for bone ingrowth.
Journal: Materials Research
ISSN 1516-1439
Volume: 6;
Issue: 3;
Start page: 321;
Date: 2003;
Original page
Keywords: CaO-P2O5 glass | hydroxyapatite | porous composites | bending | compression
ABSTRACT
In the present study, mechanical properties of porous glass reinforced hydroxyapatite bioceramics were assessed by microhardness, bending and compression tests and fracture toughness determination. Porous discs were produced by a dry method using wax spheres as pore formers. Green bodies were sintered and the final microstructure of the composites consists of hydroxyapatite, alpha and beta tricalcium phosphate (alpha and b-Ca3(PO4)2)due to the reaction between the glassy phase and the hydroxyapatite matrix. The results of the mechanical tests showed that the glassy phase yielded higher fracture toughness and bending strength when comparing with literature data for single hydroxyapatite. There is a compromise between mechanical properties and the porosity level for bioceramics: for example, according to Weibull statistics for composites with 65% porosity the maximum bending stress level is 0.2 MPa for 100% survival probability whereas this stress level increases to 2.5 MPa for composites with 40%. However, only the 65% porosity composite samples seem to have the complete adequate morphology for bone ingrowth.
