Effect of Reaction Conditions on Pore Configuration and Mechanical Property for Porous Hydroxyapatite Prepared by Polymer Sponge Method

Abstract

Porous HAp scaffolds have been prepared by using the slurry including HAp and magnesia based on the replication of polymer sponge substrate. The influence of HAp and MgO content in slurry on the pore morphology and size, and density, porosity, and mechanical strength of porous HAp scaffolds was investigated. The obtained scaffolds with average pore sizes ranging 150 to 300 μm had open, relatively uniform, and interconnected porous structure regardless of HAp and MgO content. As the MgO content increased, the pore network frame of scaffolds became to be relatively stronger, even though the pore size was not much changed. The compressive strength of the scaffolds increased rapidly with the increase of MgO content at a fixed HAp content because of increasing the pore wall thickness and density of the scaffolds. As a result, the porosity, density, and compressive strength of the porous HAp scaffolds scaffolds prepared by the sponge method were significantly affected by the addition of MgO.