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Sintering of biphasic calcium phosphates

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine volume 21, pages 2271–2279 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) discs were fabricated and then sintered using two different sintering programs to establish whether the phases present could be controlled at low and high sintering temperatures. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to establish the phases present after sintering and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) determined the microstructure. Sintering program 1 involved a simple heating and cooling schedule and temperatures of 1100, 1250, 1275 and 1300°C. It produced samples containing an additional alpha-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) phase at temperatures above 1100°C. The original ratio of hydroxyapatite/beta-tricalcium phosphate (HA/β-TCP) could not be maintained above this temperature. Sintering program 2 combined the heating and cooling schedules of the first program with a 900°C hold stage to allow α-TCP to β-TCP conversion to take place. At temperatures of 1250 and 1275°C, this program was successful in completely removing the α-TCP phase and preserving the HA:β-TCP ratio. The SEM results show that the surface morphology of the discs was not greatly affected by choice of sintering program.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the Department for Employment and Learning (Northern Ireland).

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Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast, Ashby Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5AH, Northern Ireland, UK

    O. Brown, M. McAfee & F. Buchanan

  2. School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

    S. Clarke

Authors
  1. O. Brown
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  2. M. McAfee
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  3. S. Clarke
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  4. F. Buchanan
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Correspondence to F. Buchanan.

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Brown, O., McAfee, M., Clarke, S. et al. Sintering of biphasic calcium phosphates. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 21, 2271–2279 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-010-4032-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-010-4032-6

Keywords

  • Biphasic Calcium Phosphate
  • High Sinter Temperature
  • Bone Graft Material
  • High Speed Mixer
  • Synthetic Bone Graft