Effect of embedding eggshells to form calcium feldspar as flux in porcelain via slip casting process for bio-dental and medical applications

Abstract

ABSTRACTBio-dental and medical porcelain products embedded with eggshell as a calcium flux were prepared by slip casting and fired at 600°C, 700°C, 800°C, and 900°C for 1 h, 3 h, and 5 h. The main composition of eggshell was calcium carbonate at 96.35 wt%, it is an inorganic material used to enhance mechanical, thermal, and physical properties of porcelain in the glassy phase formation during sintering. The obtained porcelain products, with embedded eggshell powder and fired at the low temperatures at 600°C, 700°C, 800°C, and 900°C for 1 h, 3 h, and 5 h, possessed relatively low thermal expansion coefficients, good true density values with high densification, high compressive strength, and high hardness. Scanning electron micrographs, X-ray diffraction patterns, Vickers micro-hardness, thermal expansion coefficient and physical properties (bulk density, true density, densification and shrinkage) were utilised to investigate and identify the microstructure, phase composition, hardness, thermal properties and characteristics of the porcelain products. The obtained soft porcelain products are potential in dental and medical applications such as artificial bone, teeth and joint, and medical glove formation.