Comparison of Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Bioceramics Fabricated Using Different Techniques

Abstract

In this work three different preparation techniques of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) bioceramics (consisting of both hydroxyapatite (HAp) and β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP)) are compared: sintering of synthetic calcium-deficient apatites (CDAs) (intimate mixture of HAp and TCP - SBCP), sintering of mechanical mixture of synthetic HAp and apatitic tricalcium phosphate (Ap-TCP) - MBCP and sintering of mechanical mixture of synthetic HAp and calcium metaphosphate glass (CMG) - GBCP. Two different HAp/TCP phase ratios were investigated: 20/80 and 60/40. Phase composition, microstructure, sintering properties and microporosity of obtained BCP bioceramics were investigated. The open porosity of prepared BCP bioceramics is strongly influenced by phase composition and preparation technique. BCP bioceramics SBCP and MBCP have homogeneous microstructure, whereas GBCP has inhomogeneous inclusions of dense TCP. High content of hydroxyapatite (HAp) phase in MBCP and SBCP correlates with high microporosity.