Interpenetrated magnesium-tricalcium phosphate composite: Manufacture, characterization and in vitro degradation test

Abstract

Magnesium and calcium phosphates composites are promising biomaterials to create biodegradable load-bearing implants for bone regeneration. The present investigation is focused on the design of an interpenetrated magnesium-tricalcium phosphate (Mg-TCP) composite and its evaluation under immersion test. In the study, TCP porous preforms were fabricated by robocasting to have a prefect control of porosity and pore size and later infiltrated with pure commercial Mg through current-assisted metal infiltration (CAMI) technique. The microstructure, composition, distribution of phases and degradation of the composite under physiological simulated conditions were analysed by scanning electron microscopy, elemental chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction. The results revealed that robocast TCP preforms were full infiltrated by magnesium through CAMI, even small pores below 2 μm have been filled with Mg, giving to the composite a good interpenetration. The degradation rate of the Mg-TCP composite displays lower value compared to the one of pure Mg during the first 24 h of immersion test.