Fabrication of HAp‐Coated Micro‐Channelled t‐ZrO2 Bodies by the Multi‐Pass Extrusion Process

Abstract

HAp‐coated micro‐channelled t‐ZrO2 bodies were fabricated using a multi‐pass extrusion process in which carbon powders were used to facilitate the formation of pores and ethylene vinyl acetate was used as a binder. The unidirectional pores and HAp coating layers can be obtained easily, using the extrusion process. The micro‐channelled bodies were 180 μm in diameter, and the HAp layer was uniformly coated on the pore walls. However, after being sintered above 1200°C, the HAp decomposed and was transformed into β‐TCP, in which a large number of pores were observed. The maximum values of bending strength of HAp‐coated and uncoated porous t‐ZrO2 bodies sintered at 1500°C were about 116 and 173 MPa, respectively, and their relative densities were about 57% and 63%, respectively.