Sintering of the Tricalcium Phosphate-Titania-Magnesium Fluoride Composites

Abstract

Titania (TiO 2) and magnesium fluoride (MgF 2) can be mixed with tricalcium phosphate (β-Ca 3 (PO 4) 2 , β-TCP) to make bioceramic composites, which would combine the biocom-patibility of the β-TCP and the high tribological properties of TiO 2 and MgF 2 for biomedi-cal applications. The samples were characterized by different characterization techniques such as physicochemical and mechanical. The sintering of the TCP at various temperatures (1000, 1100, 1200 and 1300°C) with different percentages of titania (2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt%) was studied. The performances of the TCP-TiO 2 composites increase with both the sintering temperature and the amount of titania. The highest values of the composites' (H = 270 Hv; E = 33.1 GPa and G = 15.7 GPa) were obtained with 40 wt% tita-nia at 1200°C. Moreover, the addition of 4 wt% MgF 2 to the TCP-40 wt% TiO 2 composites leads to better mechanical properties (σ r = 27 MPa; H = 360 Hv; E = 51 GPa and G = 20 GPa) at 1200°C for 1 h. The amelioration of these properties is due to the formation of a new compound and the liquid phase which helps to fill the pores in the microstructure. The obtained performances of the TCP-TiO 2-MgF 2 composites are similar to those of bone tissue and especially as enamel.