Structural and Magnetic Characterizations of Nano Sized Grain Zinc Ferrite/Hydroxyapatite Ceramic Prepared by Solid State Reaction Route.

Abstract

A promising composite of bioactive hydroxyapatite (HAp) and zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) has potentials for future bone reinforcing formation. In present study, HAp and ZnFe2O4 composite ceramic was prepared by solid state reaction route for easier control of structural and magnetic characteristics and with low cost. HAp powder was synthesized by precipitation method from chicken eggshell. Mixed powders with varying ZnFe2O4/HAp weight ratios from 2-10 wt% were milled together and uniaxially pressed and then sintered at 1200 degrees C for 3 hours. The XRD results showing no other phases of composite ceramics with only HAp and ZnFe2O4 phases were identified, indicating high stability of HAp property. Phase fractions of ZnFe2O4 were found to increase from 10.8 to 18.73 wt% with increasing content of ZnFe2O4. FT-IR results were only revealed vibration bands of standard HAp phase. SEM results revealed primary grains sizes of the prepared ceramics in nano scale. The BET surface area and pore volume increased with increasing content of ZnFe2O4 in composite ceramics. The VSM results of composites with increasing ZnFe2O4 content had been shown with increasing magnetization from 0.05 to 1.85 emu/g while their coercivities were decreased from 44 to 24 Oe. Higher magnetization as well as higher super paramagnetic behavior could be achieved with increasing the studied ZnFe2O4 weight ratios in ZnFe2O4/HAp composite ceramics, which can be tailored for specific applications.