Preparation and compressive strength of α‐tricalcium phosphate/gelatin gel composite cement

Abstract

A novel α-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and gelatin gel composite cement was prepared, and the effects of gelatin content, liquid/powder ratio, setting time, and additives (rod-like hydroxyapatite and CaTiO3 particles) on the microstructure and compressive strength of the setting product were investigated. Addition of gelatin gel to α-TCP cement resulted in the formation of a porous solid possessing pores of 20–100 μm in diameter whose pore diameter increased with increasing gelatin gel content. The compressive strength of α-TCP cement after 1 week increased from 9.0 to 14.1 MPa with increasing gelatin gel content up to 5 wt % and thereafter decreased. The compressive strength of the cement containing 5 wt % gelatin gel increased with time up to 35 MPa after 1 month whereas without gelatin gel it was ∼20 MPa. Dispersion of 5 wt % of rod-like hydroxyapatite and CaTiO3 powders with α-TCP cement containing 5 wt % gelatin gel increased the compressive strength after 1 week from 14.1 to 31.3 and 34.8 MPa, respectively. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 54: 525–530, 2001