Effect of Composition and Temperature to the HA/ß-TCP Composite

Abstract

The aim of this study is to fabricate hydroxyapatite (HA) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) composite by varying the HA/β-TCP compositions (100% HA, 80% HA with 20% β-TCP, 60% HA with 40% β-TCP, and 50% HA with 50% β-TCP) and sintering temperatures (1000°C and 1200°C). The powders are mixed with ethanol by using agate mortar, dried in oven (80°C, 24 hours) and uniaxially pressed into 16 mm diameter pellets followed by sintering. Samples are characterized by bulk density testing, phase analysis using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Vickers hardness test. Pure HA powder sintered at 1200°C shows the highest density and hardness with 3.090 gcm-3 and 421.70 HV respectively. XRD phase analysis show decrease of HA phase at higher sintering temperature due to phase decomposition of HA into β-TCP and alpha-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP). Both HA/β-TCP composition and sintering temperature are significant factors to the hardness with sintering temperature the more dominant factor.