Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of Dense/Porous β-Tricalcium Phosphate Bioceramics

Abstract

Attempt to increase the mechanical properties of porous bioceramics, a dense/porous structured β-TCP bioceramics that mimic the characteristics of nature bone were fabricated. Experimental results show that the dense/porous structured β-TCP bioceramics demonstrated excellent mechanical properties with compressive strength up to 74 MPa and elastic modulus up to 960 MPa, which could be tailored by the dense/porous cross-sectional area ratio obeying the rule of exponential growth. The interface between the dense and porous bioceramics is connected compactly and tightly with some micropores distributed in the matrix of both porous and dense counterparts. The dense/porous structure of β-TCP bioceramics may provide an effective way to increase the mechanical properties of porous bioceramics for bone regeneration at weight bearing sites.