Effects of β-TCP ceramics particles on properties of glass bone cement

Abstract

With bioactive SiO2–CaO–P2O5–CaF2 glass powder as the matrix and ammonium phosphate solution as setting liquid, β-tricalcium phosphate ceramic particles were added to produce a porous bone cement. The crystalline form, chemical composition and microstructure of this bone cement were observed and analysed by XRD, FTIR and SEM. The results indicate that the added β-tricalcium phosphate promotes the nucleation and growth of hydroxyapatite crystals. The degradation of β-tricalcium phosphate increases the apparent porosity of bone cement, but reduces its compressive strength. When β-tricalcium phosphate accounts for 30-wt-% of the total, the apparent porosity is approximately 45% by the 30th day of immersion in stimulated body fluid, and the compressive strength can still reach 20 MPa, which is conducive to the degradation, fusion and shape retention of bone cement.